Next course of action on Feb 29: union leader
Patiala: Farmer unions spearheading the “Dilli Chalo” march, backed by the father of Shubhkaran Singh (21), who died in alleged Haryana Police firing two days ago, have demanded that an FIR first be registered against the Haryana Police, a special report by Aman Sood in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says.
The farmers reaction came a few hours after the Punjab Government announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore and a government job for a sister of the young farmer
However, in the evening, a woman, Veerpal Kaur, said she was the mother of the victim and had “no condition or objection” to the cremation of her son.
While the farmer unions and the victim’s father refused to accept the compensation amount Shubhkaran’s mother said she wanted a peaceful cremation for her son. Shubhkaran’s post-mortem has been delayed as farmers are pressing for the acceptance of their demands.
The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said the Punjab CM had promised stern action and an FIR against those responsible for Shubhkaran’s death. “But now we are told that an FIR is not possible,” he said, adding that the next course of action would be decided on February 29. Till then the farmers will stay put at the two protest sites.
In the evening, Veerpal Kaur reached the Government Rajindra Hospital mortuary and was allowed to see her son’s body. Sources said she had agreed to the “autopsy of her son” without setting any demand. However, no police or hospital official was willing to comment on it.
Talking to mediapersons, Veerpal Kaur, accompanied by her mother, said she had been living separately from her husband for the past over 13 years owing to some issues, but was in touch with Shubhkaran. “I am shattered… I am affiliated with no union and have no demand. I just want a peaceful cremation,” she said. She said though she had remarried, she could not hold herself back when she heard about her son’s death.
Earlier, senior farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said more than the agitation, they were concerned about getting justice for Shubhkaran. “Only the Punjab Government can solve the issue by filing an FIR against the ‘guilty’ cops.
Meanwhile, barring stray incidents of “farmers locking horns with some journalists”, things remained peaceful with no confrontation between the Haryana Police and the protesters at the borders.
In an earlier report, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday had announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore and a government job for the sister of farmer Shubhkaran Singh who died at the Khanauri border
Singh (21), a native of Bathinda, was killed and 12 police personnel were injured in clashes at the Khanauri border on Wednesday. The incident took place when some protesting farmers were trying to head towards barricades.
“The family of Shubhkaran Singh, who got martyred during the farmer’s movement on the Khanauri border, will be given financial assistance of Rs 1 crore by the Punjab government and a government job will be given to his younger sister. Due legal action will be taken against culprits,” Mann said in a post in Punjabi.
Farmer leaders were demanding financial compensation for the kin of Singh and a government job for a member of his family, besides registration of a case against those who were responsible for his death.
They had also demanded “martyr” status for Singh, who hailed from Ballo village in Bathinda.
The post-mortem of Singh, whose body was kept in a mortuary of Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, was delayed as the farmers pressed for acceptance of their demands.
The chief minister on Wednesday said he was saddened by the death of the young farmer and asserted that stringent action would be taken against those responsible for it.
“After the post-mortem, a case will be registered. Those officials responsible for his death will have to face stringent action,” Mann had said.
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