Heavy security has been deployed at inter-state borders of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh as 16 farmers bodies call for protest seeking compensation for huge losses incurred due to floods.
The farmers are demanding Rs 50,000 crore compensation package from the Centre for damages caused by floods in the northern region, including Punjab. They are also demanding a package of Rs 5 lakh for a damaged house and Rs 10 lakh compensation for a family of a person who died in floods.
Taking it to streets, protesting farmers clashed with the police on Monday at Punjab’s Sangrur. Pritam Singh (70) was killed in the clash when a tractor-trolley ran over him. Several police personnel were also injured in the incident as well.
According to police, some farmer leaders provoked violence by breaking the barricades during the protest leading to clashes. Farmers tried to block the highway and toll plaza in Chandigarh following the detention of some leaders ahead of demonstration.
FIR was lodged against 53 farmers in connection with the violence and on charges of attempt to murder. Ahead of the protest demonstration in Ambala and Kurukshetra in Haryana, several farmers were detained by the police.
Later, farmer bodies called for a massive protest at Longowal. Sixteen farm bodies, including the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Bharti Kisan Union (Karanti kari), BKU (Ekta Azaad), Aazaad Kisan Committee, Doaba, BKU (Behramke) and the Bhoomi Bachao Mohim, had given the call for staging a demonstration here to seek compensation.
Sangrur's senior police superintendent Surendra Lamba said that members of a faction of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) sought to block the Sangrur-Barnala national highway and Badbar toll plaza.
(With PTI inputs)
