Farmers’ Protest: 15 Injured and Hospitalised After Haryana Police Use Tear Gas, Rubber Bullets
Farmers Say Protests and Attempts to Enter Delhi Will Continue
December 7, 2024
Image for illustrative purposes only.
At least 15 farmers were injured and hospitalised after the Haryana police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters at the Shambhu border on Dec. 5. The demonstrators, who were seeking to enter Delhi, are part of a movement demanding government to address agricultural issues for the last five years.
According to leaders of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, those injured include Surjeet Singh Phul, president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU-Krantikari), as reported by The Indian Express, which quoted one farmer as saying, “We will not move back. Tomorrow, 100 more will come.”
“Police used their full force against us. We were quite disciplined and were holding the protest peacefully,” NDTV quoted farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher as saying. “Punjabis and Haryanvis saved the country from hunger ... Why are we treated as enemies?”
Describing videos that emerged, NDTV said protesters were seen retreating amidst plumes of white tear gas, with some attending to an elderly farmer affected by the fumes.
Following the incident, the farmers temporarily suspended their march to Delhi for the day and planned to resume on Dec. 7.
The Haryana police has reportedly deployed extensive barricades at the protest site, including barbed wire, iron nails and a seven-layer blockade. The Punjab police has also increased their presence on their side of the border due to the growing number of demonstrators.
The farmers are demanding a legal guarantee of minimum support prices, debt waivers and pensions for agricultural workers, along with justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri incident, where a vehicle ran over four protesting farmers and a journalist, according to Hindustan Times. The incident resulted in the retaliatory lynching of three individuals. They are also seeking redress for violence during the 2020-21 farmers’ protests.
Further, farmers have demanded discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and questioned the heavy security measures.
Police claimed the protesters had not obtained the necessary permissions, but farmers insisted they informed authorities in advance.
The march, dubbed “Delhi Chalo,” was their third attempt in 10 months to reach the national capital.
One farmer leader, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border for the past 10 days, protesting against the government’s lack of action on these issues.
Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh has criticised the barricading measures, comparing them to colonial-era tactics. He has called for discussions in Parliament on the matter, urging the government to engage with the farmers.
Meanwhile, later in the day on Dec. 6, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in Rajya Sabha that the government would purchase all farm produce at minimum support price, as reported by The Indian Express.
As of early Dec. 7, the protesting farmers had not acknowledged or responded to the assurances provided by Mr. Chouhan.
