Farmers hold mahapanchayat seeking release of farmers, gave a week ultimatum to Haryana government

Farmers hold mahapanchayat seeking release of farmers, gave a week ultimatum to Haryana government

KHATKAR/JIND: Farmers from Punjab and Haryana, including women, held a ‘mahapanchayat’ at Khatkar village of Uchana Kalan town in Haryana’s Jind district on Monday, seeking the release of three farmers arrested by the state police during the ongoing agitation at two borders of Punjab and Haryana since February 13 this year. They symbolically blocked the Delhi-Patiala national highway near Khatkar village for one hour from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM to press for their demand and lifted it by giving an ultimatum to Haryana police until April 27 for the release of the trio of farmer unionists. The call for the mahapanchayat was given by two forums of Punjab, including Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) led by Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha headed by Sarwan Singh Pandher.

Notably, Jind police had arrested Anish Khatkar, a native of Khatkar village, prior to a program scheduled at Khatkar toll plaza of this district on March 19 for paying tribute to Shubhkaran Singh, (21) a farmer who died at Khanauri border in the clashes erupted between police and farmers on February 21, while Gurkirat and Navdeep Jalbera, popularly known as the water cannon man, were arrested on March 29 from Mohali airport in connection with an FIR lodged against them on February 13 when Punjab farmers reached Khanauri and Shambhu borders of Punjab and Haryana. The Haryana police had booked them under attempt to murder and other sections of IPC along with several fellow farmers.

However, Uchana Kalan SDM Gulzar Malik and four DSPs including Amit Bhatia, Joginder Singh, Jitender Kumar, and Naveen reached the spot and made an effort to pacify farmers, but it went in vain as farmers blocked the national highway. Police officers asked farmers to apply for bail, but they refused and sought the release of farmers from jail. Later, officials asked them to write an application for the release and assured them of a soft corner in this matter. Following this, farmers lifted the blockade after giving an ultimatum. Moreover, police allowed a delegation of farmers as well to meet the jailed farmer.

Talking to media persons, Jagjit Singh Dallewal who was present in the event stated that it was just a symbolic road block protest and major action would be taken on April 27 in connection with the arrests made by Haryana police. Anish Khatkar has been observing a hunger strike for the last one months and his health has deteriorated now besides a heavy weight loss. “We will not apply for the bail as farmers did not commit any crime. They were just raising the voice of their fellow farmers but the state police are trying to suppress the peaceful protest by using force. We may take any strict action such as indefinite blockade of railway tracks and roads if demands are not met within the given time,” he added

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