8 Muktsar protesters die within fortnight

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, January 20

In the ongoing farmers’ protest at Delhi borders, as of now eight farmers from Muktsar have lost their lives within a fortnight.

The first death was reported on January 7, when Chanan Singh, a 55-year-old farmer from Kakhanwali village, who had returned from Tikri border after developing some health issues, died here. Thereafter, on January 10, Harpinder Singh, 45, from Abul Khurana village died at a hospital in Ludhiana. He, too, had developed some health issues at the Tikri border.

On January 11, Jagdish Singh, a 61-year-old farmer, from Lundewala village reportedly died of cardiac arrest at the Tikri border. On January 12, another farmer, Avtar Singh, 79, from Lohara village here reportedly died of cardiac arrest while sleeping in a trailer at Tikri. On the same day, another elderly farmer, Jagtar Singh, from Barkandi village here died of cardiac arrest at his residence here. He, too, hadn’t been keeping well ever since he came back from the Tikri border.

On January 13, Iqbal Singh, 45, from Gandhar village here, who actively participated in the ongoing farmers’ protest at Tikri for almost two weeks, died of cardiac arrest at a private hospital in Bathinda. On January 16, Bohad Singh, 35, from Bhitiwala village here, too, died of cardiac arrest in a trailer at Tikri. On January 18, a 22-year-old farmer, Parminder Singh, from Aulakh village here, who had taken ill while lodging protest at Tikri, died at a private hospital in Bathinda.

Meanwhile, SAD president and Ferozepur MP Sukhbir Singh Badal today visited the residence of deceased Bohad Singh at Bhitiwala village. He assured the family of all possible help. He is visiting the residences of farmers who lost their lives in the ongoing protest.