This is an archive article published on July 24, 2024
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Gallantry award to Haryana IPS officers: MHA seeks details of ‘firing’ on farmers
On July 8, the MHA sent two communications to the Haryana home department pointing out that all the requisite details have not been shared along with the applications submitted online.
According to multiple sources who have seen the communication, the MHA observed that “firing details of all recommendees and status of criminal cases against agitators” have not been uploaded. (Express photo by Jasbir Malhi)
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has sought the details of “firing” by two IPS officers and two HPS officers whose names have been recommended along with that of two others by the Haryana government for “Police Medal for Gallantry” for stopping at the state’s Shambhu border the farmers who were marching from Punjab to the national capital as part of their Dilli Chalo agitation in February.
The MHA requisition came even as Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to reconsider Haryana’s recommendation saying that awarding gallantry medals to the officers involved in such action against farmers is akin to adding insult to injury.
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The Haryana government in February had set up barricades at Shambhu and Khanauri points on its border with Punjab after the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha announced a march to Delhi in support of various demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
In the recommendations sent to Centre on July 2, the Haryana government has sought gallantry medal to three IPS officers — Sibash Kabiraj (IGP, Ambala), Jashandeep Singh Randhawa (SP, Kurukshetra) and Sumit Kumar (SP, Jind). The three HPS officers include Narender Singh, Ram Kumar and Amit Bhatia (all DSPs). The government forwarded the names after receiving recommendations from DGP Shatrujeet Kapur for “their exceptional bravery and leadership”.
However, on July 8, the MHA sent two communications to the Haryana home department pointing out that all the requisite details have not been shared along with the applications submitted online.
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According to multiple sources who have seen the communication, the MHA observed that “firing details of all recommendees and status of criminal cases against agitators” have not been uploaded. The MHA asked the state to provide these details urgently.
In the communication, the MHA observed that the personnel of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces were also deployed along with the Haryana Police at the state borders but no such recommendation for the officers of these forces have been made.
The MHA query is likely to put the Haryana government in a spot as it has never officially stated that its forces opened fire at the protesting farmers. The state government has always said that its forces have only used tear gas shells and rubber pellets against the protesters.
According to multiple sources who have seen the communication, the MHA observed that “firing details of all recommendees and status of criminal cases against agitators” have not been uploaded. (Express photo by Jasbir Malhi) 
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