SNE NETWORK.GURDASPUR.
Violent clashes broke out between farmers and police in Nangal Chod and Bharat villages of Gurdaspur on Tuesday over land acquisition for the Delhi-Katra Expressway project. During this, the turbans of many farmers came off in the lathi charge, while 7 people were injured. The farmers alleged that the police destroyed their standing crops, while the administration claims that the land has been acquired and the farmers have been compensated.
The district administration team arrived at 10 am with the police force to clear the land, but the farmers protested demanding proper compensation. When the administration started running machines to remove the crops, the farmers tried to stop them by lying in front of the machine, after which a clash broke out between the police and the farmers. The farmers allege that the police lathi-charged and destroyed their crops. The injured include Parminder Singh Cheema, Ajaib Singh, Gurmukh Singh and others. They have been admitted to the hospital.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher says that they have not received proper compensation. He alleged that the police deliberately destroyed their standing crops. The farmers accused the AAP government of working in connivance with the central government and protecting the interests of the corporates. At the same time, the district administration says that the acquisition process has been completed and the farmers have been compensated. According to them, this land now belongs to the government and it is illegal for the farmers to cultivate here.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Pratap Singh Bajwa targeted the AAP government and said that the government has used force instead of talking to the farmers. Bajwa alleged that the AAP government did not fulfill the promises of buying moong at MSP and giving relief to flood-affected farmers.