Farmers Protest 2.0: One Dead In Haryana Police Action At Khanauri; Sources Say No Bullets Were Fired | Exclusive

The Dilli Chalo march, also known as the Farmers’ Protest 2.0, witnessed its first casualty in action after an agitator died of a head injury as Haryana Police dropped tear gas shells at the Shambhu and Khanauri border in Punjab on Wednesday afternoon to disperse farmers trying to move towards barricades stalling their protest march to Delhi.

The deceased, identified as 24-year-old Jugraj Singh, died at the Khanauri border.

As per top police sources, though the situation is tense on both borders, it is under control. “We are firing tear gas at regular intervals due to the situation created by farmers,” they said.

Jind police in a statement said during the protest, some miscreants attacked the police by setting fire to paddy straw and releasing chilli powder in the air.

“Due to excessive smoke, many farmers took out their swords and attacked police officials. Some also used spears and machetes. So far, about 12 police personnel have been seriously injured and two have been referred to other hospitals,” police said.

To control the situation, police used tear gas to disperse the farmers.

Later, one person was brought dead to Rajendra Hospital in Patiala.

Haryana Police categorically denied firing any bullets because it was decided to use no arms against the farmers. Sources said police only used water cannons, rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse farmers.

Only after the post-mortem, we can conclude the cause of death, sources said.

Meanwhile, a medical officer at Patiala’s Rajindra Hospital said prima facie the victim suffered a rubber bullet injury.

Thousands of farmers resumed their agitation two days after the fourth round of talks with the government over their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops and farm debt waiver, failed.

On reports of protestors getting foreign funding, top intelligence sources said, “A lot of rumours about this are going on. So far, there are no reports of foreign funding. They have made no major expenses so far.”

They added that it is difficult to say how far this protest will go because the situation is tense.

Farmers Protest

Hospitals in five Punjab districts have been put on alert following the confrontation between protesting farmers and the Haryana Police.

Police have erected several layers of barricades on the Punjab-Haryana borders with tense situations and not allowing the farmers to move towards the national capital over demands, including higher minimum crop prices and waiver of loans.

Heavy earthmoving equipment, including excavators, and modified tractors were seen at the protest sites, with police cautioning that these might be used to break barricades and cause harm to security personnel.

Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, who is among the three Union ministers engaging with the farmers’ leaders, has appealed to the protesters to maintain peace and resolve issues through discussions.