On an IAS officer’s instruction to police to “break farmers’ heads” during an agitation in Karnal, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday said the “choice of words was wrong”, but there was need for strictness, NDTV reported. During the protest on Saturday, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ayush Sinha told the policemen, “No one should break the cordon and reach me. If someone does, make sure he has a broken head”.

Khattar at a press conference on Monday said, “Although the officer’s choice of words was not correct, strictness had to be maintained to ensure law and order situation there was kept under check. If any action has to be taken (against the officer), it would first have to be assessed by the district administration. The DGP (Director General of Police) is also looking into it. To maintain law and order, strictness had to be ensured.” Around 10 people were injured in the police lathicharge on Saturday and one of them died of a heart attack later that night of.