Farmers Protest Highlights: Farmer leaders demand registration of FIR in protester’s death at Khanauri border; unions call to observe ‘black day tomorrow’

Bhartiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) has claimed that the farmers in 14 districts of Haryana blocked roads for two hours on Thursday to express their anger over the death of a Punjab farmer during their ongoing agitation on Wednesday.

BKU (Chaduni) chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni had given a call for blocking of roads--at least at one place-- in each of the districts. Farmer outfit’s spokesperson Rakesh Bains said the farmers in Kurukshetra district blocked roads at three places while the agrarian community stopped trains at one place in neighbouring Yamunanagar district. The outfit will hold a meeting Friday to decide its future course of action.

Union minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday appealed to the farmers protesting at the Punjab-Haryana borders to not follow the path of violence, asserting that the government is ready to hold talks with them to resolve their concerns.

The information and broadcasting minister also hit out at the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for their remarks on the farmer issue.

Trinamool Congress' Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale has written to the National Human Rights Commission urging them to look into the death of Shubhkaran Singh during the protests at the Punjab-Haryana border.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha on Thursday demanded the registration of a murder case over the death of a protesting farmer on the Punjab-Haryana border and announced a Black Day and a tractor march to condemn the incident.

Subhkaran Singh, 21, had died Wednesday amid clashes between Haryana Police and Punjab farmers, whose Delhi Chalo march has been stalled at Khanauri border point in Punjab's Sangrur's district.

“From tomorrow, there will be demonstrations every day. On February 26, tractors will stand on the national highway and state highway leading to Delhi.”

The ongoing farmers’ protest in Punjab is just the latest in the history of such agitations as since 2017, several farmer unions have made their way to Delhi to highlight their demands or to lodge protests on various issues.

On at least six occasions since 2017, farmers have protested in Delhi at Jantar Mantar, Ramlila Maidan and Sansad Marg, raising several demands, with some like minimum support price (MSP) for crops and debt waivers being a constant.

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It is late in the evening, and villagers at Balloh, about 15 km from Rampura Phul city in Bhatinda district, await Shubkaran Singh’s body, outside his home.

A hard-working young farmer, engaged in contract farming, and trying to make ends meet, is how close friend Pala describes Shubkaran.

Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar association to abstain from work tomorrow to “condemn the tragic incident in which a young farmer tragically lost his life due to police excesses”.

The petition filed by Anil Kumar seeks to restrain farmers from moving ahead to Delhi as part of their ongoing protest. Kumar has said in his petition that he 'seeks to bring the grave law and order situation arising out from the “Delhi Chalo” march by the farmers of Punjab under the leadership of respondents No. 9 (Kisan Mazdoor Morcha) and 10 (Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) which are Farmers’ Unions leading the agitation.

The agitators who are presently stationed at Shambhu and Khanori borders of States of Punjab and Haryana are posing grave danger to the life and liberty of common citizens.' Kumar stated in petition that Supreme Court of India in various orders has held that public roads and streets should not be blocked by any organization for pressing its demands as the same cause inconvenience to general public. 

The Government of Haryana has already designated various places for agitation etc. and thus the blockade of National Highway by the agitators is totally illegal and is liable to be removed forthwith, the petitioner has said in the petition filed at HC. Kumar said that he has filed the petition 'as an emergency measure thereby praying for directions to the respondent authorities to immediately remove the blockade.' 

-- Reporter: Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Alleging that 'the agitators by no stretch of imagination can be called peaceful protestors and are liable to be removed from the sites in question in order to avoid any untoward incident', a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) seeking directions to the State of Punjab, Haryana and Centre Government to take appropriate steps to 'restrain' the agitators/farmers, stationed at Shambu and Khanori borders of Punjab and Haryana, from moving ahead to Delhi under the leadership of farmer leaders, has been filed at the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The matter is yet to come up for hearing.

The petition has been filed by Anil Kumar, a resident of Panchkula and an Advocate, against the respondents State of Punjab, Haryana, Union of India (Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Railways), NHAI (National Highway Authority Of India). 

At toll barriers, staff weren't allowed to do tax collection for these 3 days while traffic movement was smooth. As on Wednesday gathering was huge at many of these sites following death of Shubhkarman, traffic disruptions were observed for sometime in the afternoon at many locations.

Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar,  

Somparkash in Phagwara,

Sunil Jakhar in Abohar,

Capt Amarinder Singh in Patiala,

Kewal Dhillon in Barnala,

Arvind Khanna in Sangrur,

Surjit Kumar Jayani in Fazilka,

Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa in Qadian 

- Protests outside the houses of Jakhar, Amarinder and Dhillon had started on February 17.

Dharnas on call of SKM are continuing at 59 places in Punjab to protest against Haryana government's action on protesting farmers at Shambhu and Khanauri. These include 37 toll barriers , 20 houses of BJP leaders and deputy commissioner offices of Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur.

Crowd outside the BJP leaders' houses grew bigger on Wednesday. Protests at these 59 places had started on February 20

Bharati Kisan Union (Sidhupur) President Jagjit Singh Dallewal has said Punjab government should declare Shubhkaran Singh as a martyr with all the benefits given to a martyr's family. He appealed to people of the country to put up black flags on their houses and vehicles to express resentment against the death.

"They have killed a farmer’s son who was protesting peacefully. I appeal to all that it is our responsibility that we should lodge our protest."

He also said:

The Punjab government should make its stand clear on why no FIR is being done.

" ABout 25-30 tractors were taken and four to five of our agitators also." Punjab government should take cognizance and get an inquiry done, he said.

Farmers protesting at Ladhowal toll plaza in Ludhiana paid tributes to Shubhlaran Singh with a two-minute silence.The leaders have demanded that Shubhkaran be declared a martyr before his body is taken for post-mortem.

Punjab government has assigned ADGP Intelligence Jaskaran Singh to speak to farmers leaders and break the deadlock over the post-mortem of farmer Shubhkaran Singh.

He is currently camping in Patiala to speak with the farmers.

The leaders have demanded that Shubhkaran be declared a martyr before his body is taken for post-mortem.

Addressing the media, BKU (Krantikari) chairman Surjit Singh Phul, while alleging that Shubhkaran died after being directly hit on the head with bullet, said, "We have information from credible sources that after talks with government remained inconclusive on February 18, home minister Amit Shah held a meeting with para-military forces on February 19 and issued directions that protestors should not be allowed to cross ahead (towards Haryana) even if direct bullet needed to be fired".

Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday said the Centre should immediately hold talks with the protesting farmers to resolve their issues, terming the prevailing situation arising out of the stir as "worrisome". The former chief minister also appealed to the farmers to maintain peace.

"The situation which prevails is worrisome. The government should immediately hold talks with farmers and resolve the issue," Hooda, who is Leader of the Opposition in Haryana, told reporters here on the sidelines of the ongoing Budget session of the state assembly.

Bharati Kisan Union (Sidhupur) President Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Monday appealed to the youth to stay calm and exercise restraint.

 “If someone has to die, it has to be us, the farmers leaders,” he said, adding that such battles are won only by exercising restraint and being patient. He appealed to them not to get agitated. “We are not like the leaders of other unions who will ask the common man to lead the agitation. But we will fight this battle by being on the front ourselves. We will not let our youth die. “ Dallewal’s appeal to youth came a day after a young farmer named Shubhkaran Singh died of a bullet injury at Khanauri border. 

It is late in the evening, and villagers at Balloh, about 15 km from Rampura Phul city in Bhatinda district, await Shubkaran Singh’s body, outside his home.

A hard-working young farmer, engaged in contract farming, and trying to make ends meet, is how close friend Pala describes Shubkaran. Shubkaran and his uncle Charanjit Singh cultivated around 20 acres on contract. They also managed livestock, including a bull that the 22-year old took great pride in.

He quit studies before completing his Standard 12, and immersed himself in farming, aspiring to be a successful farmer. Raised by his grandfather after his parents’ divorce, Shubkaran assumed the responsibility of the family, which included two sisters. His grandmother passed away about six years ago. With no contact with his mother and a father who does not keep well, he took charge. Read the full report. 

Dear Readers,

A lot is being written about the latest round of farmer protests and their demand for a legal guarantee backing MSPs. The MSPs refer to “minimum support prices” (announced by the government for several crops) and although they sound innocuous, as the repeated farmer protests underscore, they are routinely contested and have wide-ranging ramifications — from how much farmers earn to how much you pay for your food items to how much the government has to borrow in its annual budget. Here is a basic explainer of what MSPs are and the purpose behind them.

Meaningful talks have been held with the protesting farmers, said Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, adding that “more efforts will have to be put in by both sides for agreement on some issues”. His remarks come a day after farmers’ protest were suspended for two days after a protester died of head injury at Khanauri border. Several farmers were also injured as the Haryana Police dropped tear gas shells at the Shambhu and Khanauri border. The leaders will review the situation and announce the next course of agitation on Friday evening.

Farmer leader Jagjit Sigh Dallewal admitted to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. He started feeling unwell after teargas shell lobbed at him during the day.

To express their resentment over the death of a young farmer at the Khanauri border of Punjab on Wednesday, Haryana BKU (Chaduni) chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni has given a call to block one or two roads in each of the districts in the state for two hours—12 noon to 2 pm—on Thursday.

The farmer leader has urged the farmers to maintain peace and avoid any confrontation with the police during the agitation. He has also urged the truckers and other commuters to extend their support in the agitation. Earlier, the BKU (Chaduni) had planned to burn effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday but after the news of the death of a farmer, the outfit decided to block roads on the same day in place of burning the effigies.

Farmers' protest has been suspended for two days after a protester died of head injury at Khanauri border today. Several farmers were also injured as the Haryana Police dropped tear gas shells at the Shambhu and Khanauri border. The leaders will review the situation and announce the next course of agitation on Friday evening.

Haryana Police alleged that the farmer 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 at Khanauri border. Around 12 policemen were seriously injured. Appeal to the protesters for peace, the police added.

One of the several farmers injured  at Patran hospita on Wednesday.

The protester who died at Khanauri border has been identified as Shubhkaran Singh. He was aged between 21 and 22. He is the son of Charanjeet Singh of Ballo village in Bathinda district, and has two sisters.

Farmer leaders Pandher and Dallewal have announced to march forward. They have put up their masks and have started moving towards police barricades.

A protester died as the Haryana Police dropped tear gas shells at the Shambhu and Khanauri border on Wednesday afternoon. . According to senior medical officer of Patran hospital, prima facie it seems the protester has died of a head injury at the Khanauri border.

The senior medical officer at the Patran hospital said that on the face of it, he seemed to have suffered a bullet injury but Rajindra Hospital will do the post-mortem and then give a final verdict.

Security forces fire tear gas shells to disperse agitating farmers at Khanauri border in Sangrur district of Punjab. 

On asking if they have received any invitation for a meeting with the government representatives, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher says, "We will confirm soon... We will think of the talks after a discussion..."

Kaka Singh Kotra, general secretary of BKU (Sidhupur) said one of their members Jasbir Singh Guggu of Baloke village was grievously injured and has been evacuated to the government hospital at Patra near Patiala.

A crowd of around 15,000 protesters have gathered at the Khanauri border near Jind in Haryana. The surrounding fields are full of protesters. The tear gas shelling in continuing. Farmers at the Khanauri border don’t have any JCBs. 

Another round of shelling has started at the Shambhu border. Harpreet Singh, a youth from Sanaur has been injured.

Several protesting farmers have suffered injuries as Haryana police and paramilitary force personnel hurled tear gas shells at Khanouri Border. The farmers have accused the police officers of firing from 32-bore and 12-bore weapons. 

No consensus among the farmer leaders on holding a meeting with Union agriculture Minister Arjun Munda. While some are favouring it, others say nothing has come out of the previous meetings, so why hold another one? 

The leaders continue to be closeted in the Shambhu police picket.  Meanwhile, the crowd of young protesters is getting restless. 

The Haryana police have started the second round of tear gas shelling through drones. Some protesters, instead of withdrawing, are now rushing towards the barricading.

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan and General Secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, stated that a special session of Parliament should be called to formulate laws ensuring the guaranteed purchase of crops through MSP for all 23 crops. Farmers demand a peaceful resolution of the ongoing struggle, rejecting the aggressive measures of the central government to suppress the democratic voice of the protesting farmers, they said in a statement issued this afternoon.

Senior Punjab BJP leader and ex-chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi Monday and discussed various matters, including the current farmers’ agitation, the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, and the question of the BJP’s realliance with former ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). In an interview with The Indian Express, Amarinder spoke on a range of these issues. Excerpts:

How was your discussion with PM Modi?

I went to meet the Prime Minister as we had not met for a long time. He and I were the chief ministers of Gujarat and Punjab (respectively) at the same time (2002-2007). Later, when I became the chief minister for the second time (in 2017), he was the Prime Minister. Also, there is this burning issue of farmers’ agitation. I wanted to discuss that with him. It was a good meeting, where we discussed a number of issues. (Read More)

When asked about the farmers protest taking place near the Punjab-Haryana border, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said: “We are supporting them (farmers). We are saying openly that their reasonable demands should be fulfilled. We are going to say this in our election manifesto also that a legal guarantee will be given. All crops cannot be covered but the essential crops should be done (providing MSP)."

Tractor trollies lined up at the Bathinda-Dabwali border. Protesting farmers said that they would proceed as per the decision of Samyukta Kisan Morcha. This becomes the third Punjab-Haryana border with Tractor-trollies lined up. 

Farmer leaders huddle up at Highway Police Picket at the Shambhu border after an offer was made to them by the government. They are yet to announce their decision. 

An emergency meeting of Bhartiya Kisan Union Dakaunda( Burjgill) is to happen this afternoon. It is to decide how to support the ongoing agitation of farmers at the borders. Our demands are the same, said Jagmohan Singh Patiala, the general secretary of BKU Dakaunda. 

This union is a constituent unit of Samyukta Kisan Morcha. Presently SKM is not part of 'Dilli Chalo' agitation.

According to sources, farmer unions which are members of SKM have planned to lodge protests from other sides of the Punjab-Haryana borders if the need arises.

The district Collector, divisional commissioner DS Mangat and DIG Bhullar are currently mediating between the farmer leaders and the Centre at the highway police picket.

The protesters have been asked to wait for announcements by the farmer leaders.

After Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Arjun Munda on Wednesday again invited the farmer leaders for discussion on the MSP issue,

Surjit Singh Phul, of BKU (Krantikari) said that the Centre did this as they want to buy more time.

“That is why they have invited us for another round of talks. Either the PM or HM should issue a statement that all demands would be met,” he said.

The Punjab government has stepped up security measures in the wake of the farmers’ protest march to Delhi which began from the border area of Shambhu and Khanauri at 11 am on Wednesday.

The farmers have been camping on the Punjab-Haryana border areas since February 13 after their march to Delhi demanding Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops ended up in clashes with the security forces.

Ahead of the Delhi Chalo march, farmers at the Shambhu border were seen holding iron shields, distributing salt, and wearing gas masks to protect themselves from tear gas. According to the Punjab affidavit, as of February 19 there were around 13000/15000 farmers at the border during the day.

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Arjun Munda on Wednesday again invited the farmer leaders for discussion on the MSP issue.

"After the fourth round, the government is ready to discuss all the issues like MSP demand, crop diversification, stubble issue, FIR in the fifth round. I again invite the farmer leaders for discussion. It is important for us to maintain peace," he said in a post on X. 

Patiala range DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar today said that 14 tear gas shells were used without any provocation as the farmers began their march towards Delhi. He said he has lodged a protest with the Haryana police regarding the same.

The security forces fired tear gas shells as agitating farmers tried to proceed to Delhi from the Shambhu border on Wednesday. 

Reacting on the call of protesting farmer unions to march towards Delhi Ruldu Singh Mansa, president of Punjab Kisan Union ( a constituent unit of SKM)  said, "Aandolan is going on at Punjab -Haryana borders.I appeal to the protesting farmers to keep it peaceful. If it gets violent, we can lose it as well. I have a message for the leadership at these borders that they should stay calm ' Josh ke saath hosh se kaam lein'. You all must remember how we had fought Kisan agitation at Delhi borders. That agitation was peaceful and we had won it as well. Once again I appeal to the leadership as well as youngsters to keep it peaceful. Our Gurus have also taught us the same."

On Wednesday, Haryana Police urged excavator owners to withdraw their machines from the protest site where farmers plan to resume the 'Delhi Chalo' march, or else they will be held liable for action.

Police expressed concerns that these excavators might pose a risk to security personnel at the Punjab-Haryana border points if utilized by protesting farmers. Currently there are only two JCB machines at the site. The Punjab police have stopped other JCBs on the way. 

"For owners and operators of Poclains,JCBs: Please do not provide your equipment to the protestors and withdraw them from the protest site if already done, as they may be used to cause harm to security forces. It is a non-bailable offence and you may be held criminally liable," said police in a post on X.

As farmers are set to march towards New Delhi on Wednesday morning after rejecting the Centre’s five-year MSP proposal, the Haryana police have urged their Punjab counterparts to seize bulldozers and other armour-plated earthmoving equipment at the interstate borders as well as to stop women, children and journalists at least 1 km from the borders.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has sent an advisory to the Punjab Government, asking them to maintain law and order in their state in the wake of the farmers' agitation, sources in the government said. 

Haryana approached the High Court again on Wednesday, seeking directions to prevent farmers from moving ahead with their modified earth-moving equipment which pose security concerns in Haryana.

The state also seeks directions to Punjab to stop these heavy pieces of equipment from entering Haryana. The petition is yet to come up for hearing.

The talks between union ministers and farm leaders resume ahead of the 'Delhi Chalo' march. 

The Union Government has reached out to farmers for another round of talks. Both sides are in touch over the phone as of now. The possibility of another round of physical meetings is uncertain as of now.

Meanwhile, farmers at Shambhu are preparing themselves by donning swimming goggles to shield their eyes and earplugs to protect their ears from potential tear gas impact.

They have also modified their tractors and JCBs, covering their tyres with metal sheets to prevent damage.

All heavy machinery is parked at the forefront of the protest. However, several heavy machines intended for use were halted by Punjab police from reaching the protest site.