On Saturday, hundreds of farmers started marching towards Sirsa after several unions gave a call to gherao the district police chief’s office over sedition and attempt to murder cases against 100 farmers for July 13 protest that turned violent.
Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests
Police also apprehend tension outside the residence of deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala in Sirsa. Tension is also expected outside the residence of state power minister Ranjit Singh Chautala.
In response to farmers’ movement, over 10,000 policemen have been deployed in Sirsa. Apart from that, barricading has been done to prevent the farmers from reaching the Sirsa SP’s office, district police’s headquarters, and the ministers’ residences.
Sirsa district police chief Arpit Jain said, “We have made adequate deployment. Over 10,000 personnel from across all districts of Haryana, Rapid Action Force and paramilitary forces have been deployed along with 30 checkpoints so that nobody disrupts law and order and attempts to break the law.”
He further added, “We are always ready to hold talks with the farmers. We had held a meeting with them [farmers] on Friday too but there can be only legal solutions to legal cases, otherwise, there is no purpose of holding any talks.”
Police had registered an FIR on Wednesday against nearly 100 farmers on charges of attempt to murder. Sirsa Civil Lines Police Station SHO Ram Niwas stated that the fresh FIR was lodged on Wednesday on the complaint of ASI Prem Singh who had received injuries when the agitators hit him with their tractor.
On Saturday, Farmer unions have also called for a mahapanchayat in Sirsa.
Also Read: Three Ms of ongoing farmers’ movement- Mewat, Meo & Mahapanchayat- their Social & historical impacts
As a result of a “violent” protest against Haryana Assembly’s deputy speaker in Sirsa on July 11, at least 100 farmers were booked on charges of sedition. In this case, police had arrested at least five farmers, who are currently lodged in judicial custody. The farmer unions are now protesting and demanding release of the five farmers. They also demand revoking of sedition charges against those booked by police.
Farmer-union leaders like Rakesh Tikait, Gurnam Singh Chaduni and several others are also likely to reach Sirsa and lead the protest.
SKM has recently planned for a gathering of farmers (coming from 22 states) around the parliament on July 22. The farmers’ protest-movement is still on despite all the bad weather, the harsh winter, the rains, the republic day fiasco, and various other approaches taken by BJP-led centre to paint the farmers in a bad light. Many farmers are still camping at the Delhi borders. The protests have grown more intense in Haryana. Farmers have staged huge protests against BJP leader Manish Grover, who had allegedly passed vulgar remarks against women-farmers. On Friday, BKU Haryana (Charuni) national president Gurnam Singh Charuni had warned Grover to apologize or face protests.
