Chandigarh: Farmers, labourers and women protesting under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha were stopped by police from entering Amritsar on Sunday, leading to a blockade and protest on Ram Tirath Road bypass.
The protesters were heading towards the Deputy Commissioner’s office to press their demands related to the Punjab government when police set up barricades at multiple points to stop their entry into the city.
Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher alleged that police resorted to lathicharge at several locations, leaving multiple farmers injured and several detained.
According to protest leaders, group of farmers had set out from areas including Lopoke, Chugawan and Ajnala, but were intercepted en route. The situation escalated at the bypass, where protesters staged a sit-in that continued till late evening.
Among the injured, Baghel Singh Bhittewind was reported to have sustained serious injuries, while Avtar Bawa and Sukhjinder Singh were also hurt.
The protesters demanded compensation of ₹3.77 crore for alleged losses during earlier protests at Shambhu-Khanauri, along with pending compensation and jobs for injured and deceased farmers. They also reiterated demands for a legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP) and loan waivers.
Police detained around 35 protesters, including leaders Onkar Singh Bhangala, Dilbagh Singh Gill and Bibi Narendra Kaur Plaha Sahib. Though discussions with officials reportedly led to an agreement on their release, they had not been freed till 8 pm, protest leaders said.
Another group led by Gurdhian Singh Bhateri and Jarmanpreet Singh Bandala staged a protest near Golden Gate after being stopped by police, further intensifying the agitation.
