Akhilesh Yadav Alleges ‘Third-Degree’ Torture Of Farmer Leaders In Uttar Pradesh

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday alleged that farmer leaders were being subjected to “third-degree” torture in police stations in Uttar Pradesh and demanded a thorough probe and strict action against those responsible. His remarks followed allegations by SP worker Digvijay Bhati of Amroha that he was assaulted after participating in a protest in Meerut over the murder of a Dalit girl.

Yadav shared a photograph of Bhati with an injured eye on X while accusing the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh of targeting farmers. Meanwhile, Meerut Police ordered an inquiry into allegations of misbehaviour and assault involving visitors at the office of the senior superintendent of police on August 19.

“Insulting a farmer is an insult to the country,” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said in his post.

“The BJP has committed the unforgivable act of threatening farmers across the country by getting a farmer kicked in the face,” he alleged.

Yadav further alleged that the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh was “torturing farmer leaders by subjecting them to third-degree beatings in police stations”, claiming that the government was rattled by the fear of defeat.

According to PTI, Bhati alleged in a video shared on social media that he was assaulted two days ago by then-Meerut SSP Avinash Pandey over his participation in the protest. He claimed that members of the Special Operations Group (SOG) then took him to an undisclosed location and tortured him for several hours. Bhati appeared in the video with his left eye heavily swollen.

Pandey was transferred to Lucknow on Thursday evening as part of a reshuffle of IPS officers in Uttar Pradesh.

Meerut Police said it had taken cognisance of allegations of misbehaviour and assault involving visitors at the SSP’s office on August 19. “Taking cognisance of the allegations/incidents of misbehaviour and assault with visitors at the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police, Meerut, on August 19, ADG Zone Meerut Bhanu Bhaskar has assigned the inquiry into the matter to DIG Saharanpur Range Abhishek Singh,” the police said in a post on X.

The DIG has been directed to submit a report at the earliest based on the facts, it said.

PTI reported that Yadav also levelled a series of allegations against the BJP government, accusing it of compromising farmers’ interests.

He alleged that the government was entering into deals with foreign entities to hand over farming, storage and the trade and marketing of seeds, fertilisers and agricultural produce to “a few people”.

He also accused the government of refusing to agree to farmers’ demands on minimum support price (MSP), backing out of procurement commitments and making farmers stand in “endless queues” for fertilisers.

He alleged that the BJP government sought to “grab everything” belonging to farmers through land acquisition and the three farm laws, while remaining silent over the deaths of more than 700 farmers during the farmers’ agitation.

Yadav further alleged that the government did not express grief over farmer suicides and gave a clean chit to its associates accused of running over farmers with a vehicle.

“What more can be expected from a BJP government than that, in the name of farmers' welfare, it will collude with its so-called well-wishers to serve its own interests and subject 'farmer leaders' to third-degree torture,” he said.

“Farmers across the country should see how the BJP and its allies, immersed in the pleasures of power, are committing atrocities against farmers,” Yadav said.

Yadav demanded a detailed investigation into the matter, strict punitive action against every person found guilty and their dismissal from service.

“Highly condemnable,” he said, ending his post with the slogan: “Today's farmer says, we don't want BJP.”