Farmers clash with police over Bharat Mala project land acquisition

Chandigarh: Violent clashes erupted in Punjab today as police resorted to lathi-charge, tear gas, and water cannons to disperse protesting farmers demanding higher compensation for land acquired under the Bharat Mala project.

The protests, led by Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan, took place near the village of Dunewala, where farmers gathered in large numbers to oppose the government’s acquisition of approximately eight kilometers of land spanning Dunewala, Shergarh, and Bhagwangarh villages.

The confrontation escalated as farmers hurled flags at police personnel, resulting in injuries on both sides.

The protest stems from a dispute over compensation rates for the acquired land. Farmers are demanding Rs 80 lakh per acre, while the administration has offered Rs 50 lakh per acre.

The district administration had earlier encroached on the contested land for the expressway project. Today, as farmers marched to reclaim what they described as unjustly occupied land, they were met with a heavy police presence, triggering the violent standoff.

The situation remains tense, with both sides sustaining injuries and no immediate resolution in sight.