Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Sarwan Singh Pandher charged that the paramilitary forces are using military-like ammunition against protesting farmers. He alleged expired ammunition is being used since it won’t be shown in records.
“We are showing something which is used by military only, one is tear gas, another is smoke shell air burst, and smoke shell ground burst,” Pandher told presspersons displaying ammunition similar to smoke shells and rubber bullets. The Union leader charged, “After hitting the target it bursts and causes injuries, this is only used by the military and not by police. High explosive ammunition is being used. Ammunition that is expired is being used so that when records are checked it will not come in it. SLR bullets are being fired, that too of private purchase," ANI reported.
Pandher said farmers are being arrested across the country and they are not allowed to step out of their houses.
Meanwhile, farmers from Rajpura and Patiala are sitting on rail tracks and blocking trains at Rajpura Railway Station.
Despite the force used against farmers, the farmer leaders were going to hold talks with the three Union ministers on Thursday, he said.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' agitation to put pressure on the Centre for their demands, including a law on MSP for crops and loan waivers. Farmers from Punjab have assembled at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders as part of their 'Delhi Chalo' call.
Besides a legal guarantee for MSP, the farmers are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstate the Land Acquisition Act 2013, withdraw from the World Trade Organisation, compensation for families of farmers died during the previous agitation.
-with PTI inputs.
