The Haryana Police on Friday clashed with farmers in Hisar district's Khedi Chopta. Police used tear gas shells on protesting farmers and many were detained amid tension in the area.
Reportedly, protesters threw stones at police personnel after they were stopped from marching to Khanauri on the Punjab border. The farmers had been sitting on a dharna at Khedi Chopta for the past five days in support of those protesting on the Punjab-Haryana border. They were planning to join the protesting farmers on the border.
Police used water cannons too to disperse hundreds gathered to protest in the area.
Meanwhile, a 62-year-old farmer taking part in the 'Delhi Chalo' march died of heart attack in Khanauri along the border. The deceased was identified as Darshan Singh, a native of Amargarh village in Bathinda district.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) are spearheading a farmers' agitation at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points of Punjab and Haryana over various of their demands, including a law on MSP.
On Wednesday, a 21-year-old Shubhkaran, a native of Bathinda, was killed in clashes between Haryana Police and farmers. In the wake of his death, the march was put on hold for two days. The farmers observed 'Black Day' on Friday and burnt effigies of BJP leaders.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann announced compensation and a job for Shubhkaran's sister.
"The family of Shubhkaran Singh, who got martyred during the farmer's movement at Khanauri border, will be given financial assistance of Rs 1 crore by the Punjab government and a government job to his younger sister. Due legal action will be taken against culprits," he said in a post on 'X' in Punjabi.
"We will not allow the post-mortem till the genuine demand of getting an FIR registered against the guilty Haryana cops is accepted," said Jagjit Singh Dallewal.
Besides a new law on MSP, the Punjab farmers are demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
