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Sandeep Singh: Police Abuse Rains Down On Farmers Demonstrating In Hisar

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Sandeep Singh: Police Abuse Rains Down On Farmers Demonstrating In Hisar

The Farmers’ Protest is still going strong in Haryana. 

May 17, 2021
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Sandeep Singh: Police Abuse Rains Down On Farmers Demonstrating In Hisar

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Sandeep Singh
May 17, 2021 | 2.5 min. read | Original Reporting

The Farmers’ Protest is still going strong in Haryana. 

At a time when India’s second COVID-19 wave has obviously owned headlines and broadcasts across the country, police brutality and violence against a farmer’s demonstration in Hisar has put the movement back into the limelight. 

Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, was on his way to visit the city to inaugurate a temporary COVID hospital when farmers from various districts came to protest his arrival. 

Thousands of tractors, trolleys, cars, bikes, and marchers were met with police blockades. Farmers chanting slogans and using their tractors breached barriers on the outskirts of Hisar, bringing back memories of Delhi Chalo in late 2020. Farmers were then injured with police unleashed violence against them. According to a report in The Tribune, 40 farmers and 20 police officers were injured.

In viral videos, the police are seen brutally beating farmers with lathis, pelting stones, and even a case of an officer holding a brick in a throwing position. Haryana police also fired tear gas. 

Twitter avatar for @PunYaab
Sandeep Singh @PunYaab
Haryana Police fired tear gas shells to stop Farmers who were going to protest against CM Khattar.
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7:31 AM ∙ May 16, 2021
250Likes134Retweets

One of those that experienced the brutality was Harshdeep Moth. 

“Farmers who stood their ground against the police lathi-charge got really abused and injured. I was with farmers who sat on the road and had told police that they are ready to get lathi-charged and even shot. They beat up me so brutally that the policemen broke three lathis on me.” 

I talked to a female farmer whose blood-soaked picture has been making the rounds on social media. Nirmala, 53, had specifically made the trek to Hisar to join in on the demonstration.

“We were protesting and then I saw a young boy hit by a tear gas shell. I went up to him and then I too got hit by tear gas. Then there was blood on my face.” 

Nirmala was taken to a private hospital where she got treatment. 

Twitter avatar for @PunYaab
Sandeep Singh @PunYaab
After today’s videos from Hisar went viral, a wave of anger has gripped Haryana. In upcoming days, Haryana govt will have to face more protests.
Image
12:46 PM ∙ May 16, 2021
1,265Likes543Retweets

88 farmers including Moth were arrested. 

“They were trying to get us booked under IPC’s Sections 107 and 151, but I told my farmer friends not to sign any document.”

When photos of farmers getting attacked and reports of arrests reached farm leaders, they came into action. 

Farm leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni and Abhinmayu Kohar issued a video statement in support of farmers. Farmers were told to block the roads and they had even planned to protest outside the police station if the police did not release the farmers.

Twitter avatar for @PunYaab
Sandeep Singh @PunYaab
Farm leader @GurnamsinghBku criticized Haryana govt and police’s lathicharge on farmers.
Image
9:09 AM ∙ May 16, 2021
867Likes340Retweets

After negotiations, Hisar Police released all those arrested. As a result, farmers unblocked the roads as their demands had been met - for now. 

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Sandeep Singh hails from Machhiwara, Punjab. As an independent journalist, he has worked with many prominent Indian news organizations. Sandeep has been following the farmer’s protest in Punjab since its onset and traveled with them to Delhi. He spends most of his time at the Singhu border protest site. You can follow Sandeep on Twitter @Punyaab


Baaz is home to opinions, ideas, and original reporting for the Sikh and Punjabi diaspora. Support us by subscribing. Find us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook at @BaazNewsOrg.  If you would like to submit a written piece for consideration please email us at editor@baaznews.org. 

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Sandeep Singh: Police Abuse Rains Down On Farmers Demonstrating In Hisar

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