Chandigarh: A farmer died on Wednesday while several others were left injured after the Haryana Police dropped tear gas shells with the help of drones amid the farmers protest at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders between Punjab and Haryana.
However, instead of dispersing, farmers were seen moving closer to the barricades in order to cross them over.
According to unverified sources, the protestor, identified as 24 year old Shubh karan Singh from Bathinda, was shot at by the Haryana Police. The incident happened after the farmers protest received a massive response on Wednesday and farmers assembled in great numbers to resume the Dilli Chalo march.
According to sources, H S Rekhi, the medical superintendent at the government-run Rajindra Hospital, told the media that the youth was brought in already deceased around 3 pm. “He seemed to have succumbed to a bullet injury; however, further confirmation will be provided following the autopsy,” Rekhi said.
On Wednesday, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Patiala Range, HS Bhullar, asserted that the Haryana Police deployed 14 tear gas shells without apparent provocation as the farmers initiated their march towards Delhi from the Shambhu border.
On Wednesday, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Arjun Munda extended another invitation to the farmer leaders for discussions regarding the MSP issue. “Following the fourth round, the government is prepared to address all concerns, including the MSP demand, crop diversification, stubble issue, and FIR, in the upcoming fifth round,” he stated.
Earlier this week, talks with the Centre over demands for MSP had failed. The leaders of the farmers protest had informed that they would resume their protest from Wednesday. The farmers had also asked the authorities to open up the borders so that they could continue their protest.
Meanwhile, a police officer, the third in a row, died on Tuesday night after falling ill.
