Farmers at Punjab's Lambi hold Naib Tehsildar 'hostage; lathicharged
Lambi (Shri Muktsar Sahib), March 29: As many as seven farmers were injured in a lathicharge by the police at Lambi, Shri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab, late Monday evening. According to information, the farmers, under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), were protesting against the delay in compensation for the cotton crop destroyed by pink bollworm.
However, they allegedly took Arjinder Singh, Naib Tehsildar, of Lambi, hostage following which the police resorted to a lathicharge on the farmers. The injured farmers have been admitted to the local Civil Hospital.
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Farmers at Punjab's Lambi hold Naib Tehsildar 'hostage; lathicharged[/caption]
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Farmers alleged that Muktsar district had been neglected in the matter of compensation for the cotton crop damaged by pink bollworm.
They alleged that only six villages of Lambi block in Shri Muktsar Sahib had been included in 'Girdawari and they, too, had not been compensated yet. On the other hand, 30 other villages were yet to be included, they added.
Protest by patwaris
In protest against the "hostage incident", patwaris staged a protest on the National Highway late Monday evening. Seeking punishment for the farmers who held the Naib Tehsildar hostage, staff of all SDM and Tehsil offices of the district have announced an indefinite strike.
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Farmers at Punjab's Lambi hold Naib Tehsildar 'hostage; lathicharged[/caption]
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The Punjab Revenue Officers' Association said they had launched an indefinite strike starting March 29 against alleged hostile treatment with revenue officials by members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan).
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Farmers at Punjab's Lambi hold Naib Tehsildar 'hostage; lathicharged[/caption]
In a statement released here, association members alleged that the BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) were forcing officials to make false reports to claim compensation, which the former refused.
The association has urged government officials to join them and also requested the AAP government to take action against the farmers' body.
-PTC News
