February 22, 2024
NEW DELHI – A 24 year old protesting farmer was killed and dozens more were injured in police action at Khanauri border in Haryana. According to the farmers, the deceased protester was killed after sustaining bullet injury on his head.
He has been identified as Shubhkaran Singh, a resident of Ballo village in Punjab’s Bathinda district.
In a purported video, farmers are seen carrying him on their shoulders after being hit by a 12 bore bullet. One more farmer also sustained serious injury and has been admitted to Chandigarh PGI, where, according to Haryana police, his condition is said to be stable.
The farmers have claimed that as many as 160 protesters have sustained injuries in police action today.
Earlier today, the farmers resumed their Delhi Chalo protest march after talks with government failed. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesting farmers and stop them from marching towards the national capital.
Meanwhile, Haryana police has claimed that at least 12 of its personnel were injured after farmers allegedly attacked them with sticks and pelted stones.
“At the Data Singh-Khanauri border, the protesters surrounded the police from all sides by pouring chilli powder in the stubble, attacked the policemen using sticks and maces along with stone pelting, about 12 policemen were seriously injured,” the police said.
Opposition Congress questions PM Modi’s silence
All India Kisan Congress president Sukhpal Khaira condemned the killing of Subhakaran Singh and alleged that Haryana police opened fire at unarmed farmers who were protesting peacefully.
“It is with great sadness that we have to inform that a 23 year old young farmer from Punjab, Shubhakaran Singh, was shot dead by the Haryana Police at Khanauri border. Haryana Police opened fire when the farmers were protesting unarmed and peacefully,” he said.
Khaira also questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked why the farmers were being stopped from coming to Delhi.
“Despite all this, the Prime Minister of the country is silent. They are stopping the farmers of their own country from coming to Delhi by putting up barricades,” he added.