Farmers' Protest: Situation Quiet But Tense, Family of Deceased Refuses Cremation, Seeks FIR against Haryana Cops | Exclusive

The situation is quiet but tense following the death of a 21-year-old farmer during the protest at the Punjab-Haryana border, top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 on Friday.

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann has announced compensation and a job for the family of the deceased, Shubhkaran Singh. Farmers have alleged that he was killed at Khanauri on the Sangrur-Jind border during clashes with Haryana Police.

Protesting farm unions are demanding a law to set a minimum price on all crops, expanding a government scheme that already exists for staples including rice and wheat. They have also demanded other concessions including the waiving of loans and universal pensions for farmers aged 60 and above.

Shubhkaran Singh’s family wants an FIR to be lodged against Haryana Police before the post-mortem and cremation.

Farmers are also waiting for any announcement of talks resuming with the government, even as the Tikait and Rajewal groups are said to be in discussions.

Haryana Police on Friday reversed its decision to invoke the National Security Act (NSA) against protesting farmer leaders on the Shambhu and Khanauri borders with Punjab.

The police in Ambala district had slapped NSA on farmer leaders and started the process to seize their properties and bank accounts after Punjab protesters damaged government and private properties.

Sources said the NSA was taken back after the Centre’s intervention as the government wants talks with the protesters to start as soon as possible.

The Punjab Police is in the process of filing an FIR against the Haryana Police, but a final decision is to be made. The Haryana Police has maintained that no bullet was fired during the protests as was being claimed. Sources said the death may have been caused by a rubber bullet.

According to the sources, the situation is still tense and more mobilisation is expected as farmers are known to take their agitation to the edge. Even though the family is not ready, the first priority is the cremation of the deceased farmer, said the sources.