AMBALA: Amid the farmers
protest
following the Delhi Chalo call is ongoing at Haryana borders, two deaths were reported in Ambala and Patiala districts on Friday, of an elderly
farmer
from Punjab and an exemptee sub-inspector (ESI) of Government Railway Police (GRP).
The deceased farmer was identified as Gian Singh (about 78) of Gurdaspur district, who is suspected to have died due to heart attack as he complained of breathlessness and low blood pressure, said Dr HS Rekhi, medical superintendent of Rajindra Hospital, Patiala.
Dr Rekhi said that Gian Singh was alive when he was brought to Rajindra Hospital but he could not be saved. He added that his post-mortem was conducted and the body was handed over to the family members. About the cause of death, Dr Rekhi said, “Viscera has been sent for examination and a post-mortem report is awaited. Prime facie it seems to be a case of heart attack and cause may be any.”
Patiala civil surgeon Dr Raminder Kaur said, “Gian Singh was first brought to hospital at Rajpura in a government ambulance deputed at Shambhu border. From Rajpura after first aid, he was referred to Patiala.”
The deceased GRP ESI was identified as Hira Lal, who was posted at Samalkha police post under the GRP Panipat police station.
Ambala Cantonment GRP SHO SI Dharambir Singh said, “ESI Hira Lal had a heart attack on February 13. He was taken to the cardiac center at civil hospital in Ambala Cantonment, where he passed away on Friday.”
GRP SHO said, “ESI Hira Lal was deputed on duty at Ghaggar river bridge on Ambala-Ludhiana railway line parallel to Shambhu border, in the law and order duty in view of ongoing farmers’ protest. His post-mortem was conducted on Friday.”
Meanwhile, the situation at Shambhu border on the National Highway (NH) 44 remained mostly peaceful except on one occasion. The protesting farmers remained in discipline but at once some youths tried to move towards Haryana police barricading. One round of tear gas shelling was done by Haryana police to push the youths back. The police kept the border heavily guarded and did not allow anyone to come close.
In an official release, Ambala district administration said, “During the day at Shambhu, the protesters and some mischievous elements had tried to move forward by using the barricade as a shield, but the police and paramilitary forces did not allow them to move forward and their barricades were also removed from there.”
The release said the police and district administration have been appealing to the farmer organization as well as all others not to do any kind of work to disturb the law and order. Even on Friday, Ambala IGP Sibas Kabiraj, DC Shaleen, SP Jashandeep Singh Randhawa kept an eye on the situation and activity at Shambhu border. Strict arrangements are made by the police and paramilitary forces to stop the protestors.
Death of farmer mourned at Shambhu, ‘Punjab government to give Rs 5 lakh in case his death’, says farm leader Pandher.
The farmers and their leaders mourned the death of farmer at Shambhu border, as his dead body was brought here after the post-mortem from Patiala. Tributes were offered to Gian Singh, who was a marginal farmer, by the farmers and leaders by placing his body at Shambhu border. Later, his body was sent to his native village in Gurdaspur in an ambulance. Gian Singh was alone and his body was received by his nephew.
Before this, farmer leaders Sarvan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh also addressed the media.
“Our peaceful protest is ongoing except for some tear gas shelling from the Haryana side. We have talked to the government regarding Gian Singh, who got martyred here. He does not have any children and his heir is brother. The Punjab government has decided to give Rs 5 lakh to the kin of Gian Singh. We have also demanded a job for one of his family members also. His cremation will be conducted at his village on Saturday. The farm unions shall join his last rites”, said Pandher.
“DGP Punjab has written to the government about resuming the internet services. We have also provided a list of social media handles and Youtube channels blocked by the government, and asked to unblock them. The government is assuring us to get them unblocked soon. About 51 farmers have been detained in Ambala and we have sought their release”, said Pandher.
Pandher added that 97 injured farmers are undergoing treatment in government hospitals and as per calculation the number in private hospitals can be nearly 400. He said more farmers have joined the protest at Shambhu as the length of the cavalcade has increased by 4 kilometers.
Jagjit Singh Dallewal said, “We have demanded a policy from the government to treat seriously injured farmers. Those who lost vision or got amputated should be given compensation and a job, so they can live their lives at ease.”
The farm leaders alleged that mischievous and government people are being sent in their protests to provoke the youths and requested the youth and farmer to be cautious about the same.
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