Haryana farmers demand FIR against Karnal SDM, cops; give a week’s ultimatum

Chandigarh: Demanding First Information Report (FIR) against Karnal’s sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Ayush Sinha and police officers involved in Saturday’s lathicharge, farmers union on Monday gave a one-week ultimatum to authorities before launching an indefinite protest against Haryana government.

The leaders also sought Rs 25 lakh compensation along with a government job for Sushil Kajal’s next of kin as he died due to the lathicharge.

They also demanded financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each for all injured farmers and free treatment for them at government hospitals.

This was decided at a Mahapanchayat called at the Gharuanda grain market of Karnal on Monday. The farmers said if their demands were not met by September 6, they would gherao Karnal’s mini secretariat indefinitely on September 7.

Farmers also condemned Karnal SDM for ordering the police to hit farmers on the head if they crossed barricades to disrupt the state-level meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Hotel (BJP) at a hotel on August 28.

Haryana Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) president Gurnam Singh Charuni also made an emotional appeal to Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders to help and support Haryana farmers facing police action for their protest against the leaders of the ruling party.