Farmers are demanding to register cases for killing, kidnapping and torturing Punjab youth at Haryana borders
By Satinder Bains
CHANDIGARH: A strong resentment is building up against Punjab CM Bhagwang Mann for turning a deaf ear to the demand of registration of FIR against Haryana police personnel responsible for violence against farmers at Shambhu and Khanauri borders.
The killing of a Bathinda farmer 21-year old Shhubhkaran Singh allegedly with a gunshot fired by the Haryana Police at Khanauri border has blown into a major controversy. He was shot on back of his head inside the Punjab territory. Yet another farmer Pritpal Singh was kidnapped and tortured allegedly by the Haryana cops.
The family of the deceased farmer Shubhkaran Singh and the farmer organisations have refused to cremate the dead body until a case of murder is not registered. The protesting farmers have demanded FIR against Haryana CM Anil Viz and police officials responsible for unprovoked firing. The family has also refused to accept a compensation of Rs.one crore and job for sister of the deceased farmer.
The dead body of the Shubhkaran Singh is lying in the mortuary of Rajindera Hospital and Medical College Patiala and farmers are guarding the body. Thour four days have passed to death of Shubhkara Singh, yet no post mortem of the dead body is conducted. Chief Minister had on February 21 announced that a case would be registered after post mortem of the dead body.
The farmer organisations have warned that Chief Minister would face the music if no FIR is registered. Notwithstanding the promise of exemplary punishment to the guilty, the Chief Minister has adopted complete silence on delivery of justice to Shubhkaran. The ministers and state leaders of AAP have also sealed their lips thus making the role of state government more suspicious and controversial.
Leader of opposition, Partap Singh Bajwa who visited the injured farmers in hospitals at Patiala and Sangrur said that Haryana police had also kidnapped some farmers and there is no trace of them. One Pritpal Singh was brutally beaten and admitted in Rohtak hospital with fractured legs, arms and jaw. He is now shifted to PGI Chandigarh with the intervention of Punjab and Haryana High Court. He also blamed the Haryana police for using private hitmen and illegal arms to fire at farmers. He said that post mortem could be conducted after registration of FIR but Chief Minister is not responding.
SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Sunday raised the issue at a public function attended by Prime Minister Narender Modi through video calling to dedicate AIIMS Bathinda to the nation.
The farmers are today holding tractor march and protest meetings over the issue of justice for Shubhkaran. The issue may boomerang on Punjab government if not addressed immediately.