A day after a farmer died after being run over by a tractor-trolley amid clashes between farmers and police personnel in Sangrur district of Punjab, over 2,000 cops have been deployed to ensure law and order in the wake of a call for protest by 16 farm bodies on Tuesday. Farmers claimed that several of them were "detained" ahead of their planned demonstration today.
Farm unions including the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Bharti Kisan Union (Karanti kari), BKU (Ekta Azaad), Aazaad Kisan Committee, Doaba, BKU (Behramke) and the Bhoomi Bachao Mohim announced a call for protest to seek compensation for losses caused by floods. Ahead of their planned protest, farmers claimed that several of their leaders, including Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) president Sarwan Singh Pandher, Satkar Singh Kotli of the KMSC, Bohr Singh of the BKU (Behramke), had been "detained" by the Punjab Police.
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Heavy security deployment was seen at Mohali border on Tuesday morning.
Why are farmers protesting in Punjab?
Farmer leaders are demanding a package of Rs 50,000 crore from the Centre for damage caused due to the floods in the northern region, including Punjab.
They are also demanding Rs 50,000 per acre compensation for crop loss, Rs 5 lakh for a damaged house and Rs 10 lakh compensation for a family of a person who died in floods.
Punjab and Haryana witnessed widespread flooding in July, causing losses to farmers. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema said the state government has “miserably failed” to provide relief to the affected farmers and farm labourers.
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Farmer leaders "detained"
Sixteen farmer bodies planned to hold a demonstration in Chandigarh on August 22 (today). Several farmer leaders were “detained” by the Punjab Police on Monday. A farmer leader in Tarn Taran claimed police allegedly “conducted raids” at the residences of farmer leaders and detained them.
To protest against the alleged police action, farmers owing allegiance to the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee held a protest at a toll plaza in Tarn Taran. Cheema condemned the police action against farmer leaders, calling it “undemocratic.”
“Their condition is worsening day-by-day. At most places they have suffered twice but government has not paid compensation even for the first loss. There is no immediate help for those who had to leave their houses and are sitting in the open. But inspite of all this if they want to protest peacefully to highlight their sufferings, they have been arrested. This is inhumane. All of them should be released immediately,” said Cheema on 'X', formerly Twitter.
Clashes escalated after police tried to stop protesters from blocking a national highway and a toll plaza. Sangrur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Surendra Lamba said the members of the farmer union wanted to block the Sangrur-Barnala national highway and also the Badbar toll plaza but police refused to let them.
A farmer identified as Pritam Singh came under a tractor-trolley belonging to one of the protesters and sustained severe injuries. He later died during treatment.
