A 22-year-old Punjab farmer, who was one of the protesters, succumbed to a head injury at the Khanauri border crossing in Sangrur district on Wednesday. The incident took place when security personnel from Haryana allegedly deployed tear gas shells and, according to farmers, even rubber bullets against them as they resumed their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march to seek a minimum support price (MSP) guarantee.
According to Punjab officials, a total of 26 individuals sustained injuries at the Khanauri and Shambhu border crossings where Haryana Police have erected barricades to halt the farmers’ march, Indian Express reported.
The farmer, identified as Shubhkaran Singh from Balloh village in Bathinda, died of a head injury, becoming the first casualty in the farmers’ protest. He was declared dead at Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, however, the reason for Shubhkaran’s head injury remains unclear.
Harcharan Singh Bhullar, DIG (Patiala range), told The Indian Express, “While the exact details will be made available by doctors, the information we have is that a rubber bullet hit him (Shubhkaran). We have sent a DSP to coordinate with the doctors.”
Bhullar, citing preliminary information, stated, “A group of protesters tried to create a smokescreen by setting stubble on fire, and security personnel hurled tear gas shells and fired rubber bullets.”
Dr Harnam Singh Rekhi, the Medical Superintendent of Rajindra Hospital, revealed, “Shubhkaran was brought dead from Khanauri with an injury on the back of the head.” He noted that it could be a bullet injury, but the precise cause would be determined only after a post-mortem examination, IE reported.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed the death and pledged to hold accountable those responsible for Shubhkaran’s death. “I have seen the video of the incident. We will conduct an investigation and register an FIR against the guilty officers.”
The Haryana Police, however, have denied any death. A post from the police handle on X on Wednesday afternoon read, “According to the information received so far, no farmer has died today… This is just a rumour. There is information about two policemen and one protestor being injured at Data Singh-Khanori border who are undergoing treatment.
Meanwhile, the farmers have suspended their protest march to Delhi for two days, though the sit-in protest will continue. Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarvan Singh Pandher, who was at the Shambhu border, said they would “review” the situation on Friday.
Later in the evening, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, president of the BKU Ekta (Sidhupur), who was hit by a teargas shell, was admitted to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala.
Government urges for peace, calls for fifth round of talks
Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda urged for peace and a return to the negotiation table.“After the fourth round (of talks), the government is ready to discuss all issues like the MSP demand, crop diversification, stubble issue and FIRs (against farmers). I again invite the farmer leaders for discussion. It is important for us to maintain peace,” he said.
‘Teargas fired at farmers’
Earlier at Shambhu, farmer leaders, including Pandher and Dallewal, along with their supporters, proceeded towards the border while appealing for calm. Teargas shells were launched in their direction during this movement.
As he was escorted out, Dallewal stated, “We were not armed. There was no provocation. But they (Haryana personnel) started hurling tear gas shells at us. This is what they have been doing, lobbing shells at youths. How do they say then that the youths have been provoking them? What they are doing is not done,” he said.
Before the news of the youth’s demise at Khanauri, the farmers’ leaders, who had scheduled the march to commence at 11 am, were in discussions with officials at the Shambhu border for the fifth round of talks with Central ministers. Upon learning about Shubhkaran’s death, they abruptly left the meeting.