Farmers protest police ‘inaction’ over death threat to union chief

Slug: Death threat to farmer leader

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 23

Farmers under the banner of BKU Krantikari Union on Thursday staged a protest in front of the District Administrative Complex over death threats to the state unit president of the union and long-standing demands of farmers. The union members said even as three months had elapsed when threats were issued by unidentified persons, but police authorities had failed to initiate action against those behind it.

Reportedly, Surjit Singh Phool, state president of the unit, was threatened by unidentified persons around three months ago. They said though the matter was brought to the notice of the local police, they failed to identify and nab the culprits till now. Moreover, the union members also demanded that debt of famers, who own agricultural land less than four acres, their debt must be waived off at the earliest.

The union members demanded that penalties and FIRs registered against farmers for burning paddy straw must be cancelled. Scores of farmers gathered in front of the District Administrative Complex and raised slogans against the government, the district administration and the police. The protesters took out a protest mach starting from the secretariat to the city bus stand.

Addressing the gathering, Baldev Singh said, “Three months ago, some unknown persons had written a letter and threatened to kill Surjit Singh, president of the union, but we have not got justice as the police have not take action against those who had written the letter. The Bathinda SSP was intimated about this letter earlier, but culprits are roaming free till now.”

Baldev Singh added, “We are giving an ultimatum to the administration. If police fail to take action against the accused in the coming days, we would be left with no alternative but to intensify our stir. We are surprised that the police are making light of the situation. It is a threat to the life of our union leader and we want immediate justice in the matter. We demand debt of marginal farmers must be waived off on priority.”