Massive Security In Haryana Ahead Of Farmers’ Planned March: 10 Points

1. Farmer leaders have been called for talks with Karnal officials ahead of the planned protest march to the district headquarters, which doubles as the state’s ‘mini secretariat’.

2. Rakesh Tikait and Yogendra Yadav were among those on stage at the mahapanchayat that was permitted at the grain market in Karnal. Post the meeting the farmers had planned to march to and “indefinitely gherao” the district headquarters.

3. District officials have said they will not allow the farmers to make this march and have deployed hundreds of security personnel. 40 companies, including 10 from the Central Armed Police Forces, have been station at various spots across the district. A large number of security personnel have also been deployed around the grain market.

4. Mobile internet and SMS services have been suspended in five districts, including Karnal. Orders banning large assemblies have been issued in Karnal and traffic on NH-44 has been diverted from areas passing through the district. Camera-fitted drones will be used as part of security measures, Karnal SP Ganga Ram Punia was quoted by PTI.

5. Yesterday Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij called on farmers to hold a peaceful protest, but declared that the state government was prepared and had taken precautions. “We have made all the necessary arrangements,” Mr Vij warned.

6. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, which is heading the farmers’ agitation against the three farm laws, has given a call for gherao of the secretariat demanding registration of an FIR against those officers who had allegedly ordered a lathi charge on agitators during their protest against a BJP event in Karnal on August 28.

7. Haryana BKU (Chaduni) chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni has appealed to the farmers to assemble and protest peacefully. “We will be holding a mahapanchayat… I appeal to all to reach in a peaceful manner. We have got message that police will allow us to gather at the mandi. Next course of action will be decided at the mahapanchayat,” he said today.

8. Apart from outrage from the opposition, last month’s attack also drew criticism from within the BJP’s ranks. Varun Gandhi, the party’s MP from Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh urged the central government to understand the pain of farmers. Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik spoke to NDTV and demanded that Chief Minister ML Khattar apologise.

9. Angry farmers have demanded an FIR against those involved in the lathi charge, and particularly Karnal SDM Ayush Sinha, who was caught on tape allegedly telling policemen to “break heads” of protesting farmers. They have demanded a murder case be filed.

10. The farmers also want compensation of Rs 25 lakh and a government job for the family of a farmer who died after allegedly sustaining injuries in the lathi charge. The police, however, have said that the farmer was not injured in the clash but died of a heart attack.

With input from PTI