‘Barbaric’: Amarinder Singh flays Haryana Police over injured Punjab farmer, urges CM Khattar to act

Earlier, the Punjab government and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had raised the issue involving Preetpal, who was injured during the farmers’ protest at Khanauri on Wednesday and went missing.

I strongly condemn the barbaric act of violence committed by the Haryana Police on our young farmer Pritpal Singh. I urge Haryana CM @mlkhattar to take strict action against the policemen who are guilty of badly beating up an unarmed youngster who was just serving langar to…

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) February 25, 2024

On Sunday morning, Amarinder – who is currently with the BJP – took to X, formerly Twitter, and wrote: “I strongly condemn the barbaric act of violence committed by the Haryana Police on our young farmer Pritpal Singh. I urge Haryana CM @mlkhattar to take strict action against the policemen who are guilty of badly beating up an unarmed youngster who was just serving langar to people.”

Preetpal, a resident of Sangrur was protesting with fellow farmers when violence broke out at the Khanauri border in which Shubhkaran Singh, 22, was killed. According to farmers’ unions, Preetpal was taken by the Haryana police and went missing. However, the Haryana police clarified that he was under treatment at PGI Rohtak.

On Friday, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia raised the matter even as Preetpal’s father Davinder Singh moved a habeas corpus plea in the high court. The court subsequently appointed a warrant officer on whose intervention Preetpal was shifted to PGIMER Chandigarh.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Secretary Anurag Verma had on Saturday morning written to his counterpart in Haryana, Sanjeev Kaushal, asking to hand over Preetpal to the Punjab Government and also seeking to know if any other farmer was also under treatment in Haryana. Verma said the Punjab government was providing free treatment to all the farmers.

According to Preetpal’s brother Gurjeet Singh, the farmer has three fractures in his left leg, eight fractures in his jaw, a fracture in his nose and many of his teeth were broken.

Farmers’ union leader Sarwan Singh Pandher alleged that Preetpal was picked from the Punjab side of the border while he was serving langar and was tortured by the Haryana Police.

Earlier on February 19, Captain Amarinder Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his daughter and BJP Mahila Morcha Punjab chief Jai Inder Kaur. After the meeting, Amarinder told reporters that he discussed various Punjab-related issues with PM Modi, including the farmers’ protests and sought an early resolution to the farmers’ demands. He went on to state that Modi was concerned about the farmers and expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved soon.

At the time, he said, “My stand for farmers is the same as it was in 2020 when I was the CM and standing for them against the farm laws. I never change my stand. I have told the farmers that I am for them and our entire state leadership is concerned about the farmers.”

Even on the day Shubhkaran Singh was killed, Amarinder had expressed condolence over the death and posted on X, “I pray to Waheguru ji for an early resolution to the farmers’ protest so that they all can come back to their families safely.”

Tragic death of young Shubhkaran Singh is very painful. My deepest sympathies are with his family and whole of Punjab today stands with them. A thorough investigation must lead to who is responsible for his death and truth must come out. I demand strictest action against those…

— Sunil Jakhar(Modi Ka Parivar) (@sunilkjakhar) February 23, 2024

BJP state president Sunil Jakhar too had posted, “Tragic death of young Shubhkaran Singh is very painful. My deepest sympathies are with his family and whole of Punjab today stands with them. A thorough investigation must lead to who is responsible for his death and truth must come out. I demand strictest action against those responsible to prevent recurrence of such mishap again because there are thousands of our Shubhkarans at protest site even today. Both sides must remember ‘Every life matters’.”

He added, “While governments and security forces must observe restraint and sensitivity to allow peaceful protests, farmer organisations must also channelise passions and energy of our youngsters in right direction.”

Jakhar and Amarinder have been speaking in favour of the farmers since February 17, almost a week after the protests began at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. Even when farmers’ unions stages dharnas outside their houses from February 17 to 22, the leaders – who were previously with the Congress – showed no resistance and even offered refreshments and opened their homes to the protesters in case of any need.

Protesting farmers in Fazilka said the leaders were attempting to stay close to the farmers. “Still they are speaking their mind at least, unlike the previous leadership which kept supporting the farm laws and even criticised the farmers for protesting in 2020-21,” one farmer said.

Another added, “Ahead of the polls, Amarinder is trying to play safe so that BJP leaders can at least get entry in villages.”