Farmers announce indefinite protest in Samana in support of Gurjeet Singh Khalsa; clashes reported with police
PTC Web Desk: Tensions escalated in Samana on Tuesday after farmers announced an indefinite protest in support of Gurjeet Singh Khalsa, who has been demanding stringent legislation against incidents of sacrilege. The situation turned volatile when members of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) gathered in large numbers to stage a demonstration and were stopped by the police, leading to clashes between the two sides.
Gurjeet Singh Khalsa has been perched atop a 400-foot BSNL tower in Samana since October 2024, demanding the enactment of a strict law to ensure severe punishment for those involved in sacrilege cases. He has maintained that he will not come down until the government introduces a tougher legal framework to address such incidents.
To prevent the farmers from entering Samana, the Patiala police had imposed tight security arrangements and set up barricades at multiple locations. When protesters attempted to move forward toward the tower site, a confrontation ensued. Farmers raised slogans against the government, while the police resorted to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.
A police official stated that repeated appeals were made to the protesters to maintain order and not proceed toward the restricted area. However, as the group continued advancing, security personnel were compelled to use force to prevent a breach. In the ensuing scuffle and chaos, several police personnel and farmers reportedly sustained minor injuries.
Ahead of the protest, the Punjab Police had detained nearly 90 farmer leaders and activists from Sangrur district and other areas in an attempt to prevent large-scale mobilisation. Among those detained was Bhana Sidhu, a senior leader and activist associated with BKU Sidhupur. He was intercepted while traveling by car toward the protest site. Despite preventive measures and checkpoints across key routes, farmers remain firm in their demand for stricter action against sacrilege offenders.
The 43-year-old Gurjeet Singh Khalsa has continued his protest for over a year under challenging conditions, including adverse weather and growing health concerns. Nevertheless, he has refused to descend from the tower. In a bid to intensify pressure on the government, his supporters launched a foot march on January 1 to mobilise public backing for the demand.
Khalsa has reiterated that his agitation will continue until the government enacts a stringent law addressing sacrilege cases and ensures strict punishment for those found guilty.
- PTC NEWS
