Farmers Suspend 'Delhi Chalo' March For Two Days As One Farmer Dies In Clash (Photo on X Mahendra N @Mahen_101)
Amid the ongoing “Delhi Chalo” farmers march, a 21-year-old farmer, Shubhakaran reportedly died following a clash between the protesting farmers and the police at Khanauri border in Haryana. The farmers outfit All-India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) alleged that the farmer died during the police action against them.
According to the doctor who examined the farmer at a Patiala hospital, the latter was brought dead with a bullet injury on his head. The details regarding the bullet and others can only be explained after postmortem, said the doctor. Due to the unexpected death, the farmers have decided to halt the march for two days while continuing their sit-in demonstrations.
In addition to one death, two others, who also sustained bullet injuries, were reported to be stable. The farmers had yesterday rejected the government’s proposal and vowed to continue their stir against the government, seeking the assurance of Minimum Support Price (MSP) among various others demands.
However, the police have denied the death in the clash in a post on its social media platform. “According to the information received so far, no farmer has died today. This is just a rumour. There is information about two policemen and one protestor being injured at Data Singh-Khanauri border who is undergoing treatment,” the Haryana police said in its X handle.
अभी तक की प्राप्त जानकारी के अनुसार आज #किसानआंदोलन में किसी भी किसान की मृत्यु नहीं हुई है। यह मात्र एक अफवाह है। दाता सिंह-खनोरी बॉर्डर पर दो पुलिसकर्मियों तथा एक प्रदर्शनकारी के घायल होने की सूचना है जो उपचाराधीन है। @ssk303 @DGPPunjabPolice @cmohry @anilvijminister
— Haryana Police (@police_haryana) February 21, 2024
Notably, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also took to his social media platform X, confirming the death, expressing his sympathy and assuring help for the family of the Shubhakaran, the dead farmer. “We express our heartfelt sympathy to the family of Shubhakaran in this hour of sorrow… We assure to help the family financially and socially in all aspects… After the post-mortem, appropriate action will be taken against the responsible officials,” the chief minister posted a video of him speaking about the incident.
“The news of the death of 21-year-old Shubhakaran was received today during the incident at Khanauri border… It is very sad that the youth of my state is no longer in this world… I want to ask the central government… That the farmer of Punjab cannot go to the capital of his own country? After the death, two farmer groups issued angry statements, blaming the state police and the Central government,” Bhagwant Mann said.
ਅੱਜ ਖਨੌਰੀ ਬਾਰਡਰ “ਤੇ ਵਾਪਰੀ ਘਟਨਾ ਦੌਰਾਨ 21 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਸ਼ੁੱਭਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਅਕਾਲ ਚਲਾਣੇ ਦੀ ਖਬਰ ਮਿਲੀ… ਬੜੇ ਦੁੱਖ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਸੂਬੇ ਦਾ ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਇਸ ਦੁਨੀਆ “ਚ ਨਹੀਂ ਰਿਹਾ… ਮੈਂ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਪੁੱਛਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ…ਕਿ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦਾ ਕਿਸਾਨ ਆਪਣੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੀ ਹੀ ਰਾਜਧਾਨੀ “ਚ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ? pic.twitter.com/kc8dAgKwjS
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) February 21, 2024
In its statement, the farmers group AIKS stated that the death of the farmer is a direct result of police action. “This killing exposes the brutality of the Modi regime even while claiming to be “farmer-friendly”. The BJP government in Haryana led by Manohar Lal Khattar is treating protesting farmers—who are marching towards Delhi— like enemy soldiers and is carrying out war-like operations,” the statement added. NDTV reported.
