Clash between Farmers and Police in Punjab’s Longowal Leaves 70-year-old Farmer Dead
A clash between protesting farmers and police in Longowal, Punjab has resulted in the death of a 70-year-old farmer. The incident took place when the police tried to prevent the farmers from blocking a highway and a toll plaza. The clash arose due to the detention of some farm leaders prior to a demonstration in Chandigarh, the capital city of Punjab.
The clash turned violent, leading to the death of Pritam Singh, the 70-year-old farmer, who was run over by a tractor-trolley. Five policemen were also injured during the clash. In response to the clash, 53 farmers have been booked for attempted murder, further escalating tensions.
Following the clash, farmers continued protesting near the Longowal police station, demanding action against the police for their use of force. The senior police superintendent of Sangrur, Surendra Lamba, stated that some farmer leaders instigated the protesters to break through barricades. He added that an FIR (first information report) would be registered once the farmer’s family filed a complaint.
The police are currently reviewing videos of the clash to identify individuals who attacked the police during the incident. Out of the 53 accused, 18 have already been named. Lamba stated that members of a faction of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) attempted to block the Sangrur-Barnala national highway and the Badbar toll plaza, but the police intervened. The situation worsened as the farmers forcibly broke through the barricades using tractor-trailers.
Videos circulating on social media showed the tragic moment when Pritam Singh was crushed by a tractor, with fellow farmers pleading for the driver to stop. The police blamed the irresponsible behavior of certain tractor and bus drivers during the protest for the farmer’s death. Lamba mentioned that some protesters even attacked the policemen with sticks.
BKU’s Ekta Azad faction leader, Kuliwinder Soni Longowal, placed the blame on the police for the clash, alleging that the authorities were conducting raids on farmers’ homes and detaining several farm leaders. He claimed that the protest at the Badbar toll plaza was organized to secure the release of the detained leaders, but the police initiated the attack instead.
The clash in Longowal occurred amidst a demand by farmer bodies for ₹50,000 crore as compensation for the damages caused by floods this summer. In response, nine farmer unions from states such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand announced a tractor rally in Chandigarh to demand compensation from the Union government.
In preparation for the protest, enhanced security measures have been implemented in and around Chandigarh, with 4,000 paramilitary and police personnel placed on standby. However, the senior police superintendent of Chandigarh, Kanwardeep Kaur, categorically stated that the farmers would not be allowed to protest in the city, and maximum force would be deployed to prevent them from doing so. Route diversions and road blockades will be implemented to maintain law and order.
The tragic death of Pritam Singh has sent shockwaves throughout the state of Punjab, with opposition leader Sukhbir Singh Badal condemning the incident and accusing the AAP government of being responsible. Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa described the police action as draconian and criticized the arrest of several farmer union leaders.
In an effort to address the farmers’ demands, Punjab governor and Chandigarh administrator Banwarilal Purohit met with representatives of farmer unions to convey their demands to the Union government. Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure that law and order is maintained during the tractor rally.
As tensions rise between farmers and the authorities, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. Both sides hold their ground, with the farmers determined to seek compensation for their losses caused by floods and the police taking measures to prevent protests in Chandigarh. The clash in Longowal serves as a reminder of the volatile nature of the ongoing farmers’ protests in India.
