As Punjab and Haryana’s farmers set out for the ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest march once again on February 21, clashes erupted between protesters and the Haryana police. Shubhkaran Singh, a 21-year-old farmer from Bathinda, was killed. Meanwhile, another farmer said he was “picked up”, “stuffed in a sack”, and “assaulted” by the Haryana police.     

The farmer, 32-year-old Pritpal Singh, is from Sangrur. He is currently admitted at PGI Hospital in Haryana’s Rohtak with a broken limb and other severe injuries. 

Pritpal only joined the protests on February 21. His wife Amandeep Kaur told Newslaundry he is “unrecognisable” after the injuries. 

“His face has been disfigured from the beating. His teeth are broken. Even after two days, his nose is bleeding. He has a severe head injury too,” said Kaur, showing Newslaundry an old picture of Pritpal.

Pritpal, who was barely able to speak, told Newslaundry he was “stuffed in a sack” by the police, who then “hit him with sticks”. “I do not want to get treatment in Haryana. I am scared here. I want to get my treatment done in Punjab.”

His family members alleged that while the doctors are willing to refer Pritpal to a hospital in Punjab, the Haryana police is not allowing it. 

Pritpal’s brother Gurjeet Singh accused the police of “threatening” them. “Two Jind police personnel are present in our ward. You will not see police in any other ward of this hospital.”

Meanwhile, farmers at Khanauri border told Newslaundry on February 21 that Haryana police personnel and “some people in civilian clothes” had attacked the farmers, and also “picked up”  some of them. On the same day, farmers’ leaders at Shambhu border, including Sarwan Singh Pandher, said one farmer had died, three were severely injured, and “eight farmers were missing”.

Speaking to Newslaundry, Jind police SSP Sumit Kumar said Pritpal attacked the police with a “small sword”. “He attacked the police, he is an accused. On a humanitarian basis, we have not arrested him so far. Once he recovers, we can also arrest him.”

Kumar dismissed the allegation of putting Pritpal in a “sack”. But he said the farmer sustained injuries “after being caught by the police”.     

Watch. 

Newslaundry has been at ground zero since their agitation began. Watch this video on their demands, the police action, and the approach taken by the centre. 

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