Farmers' Group Stages Statewide Effigy Burning Over Arrests
Farmers' organization Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) took strong action on Monday. They burnt effigies of the Punjab government in numerous locations across the state. This protest directly condemned the recent use of force against farmers. It also denounced the arrests that followed the conclusion of a major protest at Longowal on Sunday.
Leaders Issue Stern Warning and Announce New Plans
Angry farm leaders delivered a clear warning to the authorities. They stated that if the arrested workers are not released promptly, they will initiate sustained protests. These new demonstrations are planned to start from Tuesday. The protests will target the offices of Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) in Sangrur and Amritsar districts.
The leaders strongly criticized the police action. They labeled it as a deliberate attempt to crush the ongoing farmers' movement in the region. The KMM also called upon its supporters to gather. They want people to reach the rally site of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at Majitha this coming Sunday. The purpose is to confront the CM with pressing questions.
Key Demands and Grievances Highlighted
The farmers intend to question the state government on several critical issues. Their list includes the dismantling of the Shambhu-Khanauri protest site. They also want answers about the alleged theft of farmers' trolleys. Furthermore, they seek resolution on a range of other long-standing, unresolved demands.
The arrests that sparked this outrage occurred over several days. Police took some leaders into custody on Friday night. Additional detentions followed on Saturday and Sunday, escalating tensions.
Details of Arrests and Allegations of Power Misuse
According to the protesting farm leaders, authorities arrested 15 individuals. This group includes farmer leader Sarvan Singh Pandeer and other workers. All were subsequently sent to jail. In a related action, police sent 23 members of the BKU Ekta Azad group to Sangrur Jail.
Senior leaders Dilbagh Singh Harigarh and Jaswinder Singh Longowal faced a similar fate. Officials transferred them to Patiala jail. The KMM leadership has condemned these actions in the strongest terms. They argue that this represents a blatant misuse of state power. They see it as a conspiracy designed to intimidate farmers and silence their collective voice.
Widespread Geographic Reach of the Protests
The effigy-burning protests on Monday demonstrated extensive reach across Punjab. KMM activists carried out demonstrations in a long list of cities and towns. The locations included major centers like Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, and Bathinda. The list also covered Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur, Phagwara, Kapurthala, and Sultanpur Lodhi.
Further protests occurred in Firozpur, Moga, Sangrur, Patran, Rajpura, Longowal, Rampura Phul, Mansa, Fazilka, Malerkotla, and Mohali. The movement's influence even extended beyond Punjab's borders. KMM activists also burnt effigies in several towns in Haryana. These included Ambala, Yamunanagar, Panchkula, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, and Shahabad. This shows the solidarity and widespread support for the farmers' cause in the northern region.
