A symbolic picture.
Chandigarh, March 6, 2013: Seventeen farmer and labour organisations had given a call for ‘Rail Roko’ agitation for today, with a view to pressurise the Central and Punjab Governments to accept their demands.
In order to avoid inconvenience to the public at large, the state government had decided to keep the rail tracks and national highways open. In furtherance of this decision, additional force of 10,000 police personnel was mobilised and pressed into law and order duty throughout the state.
To prevent leaders and workers of these organisations from disrupting rail and road traffic, police parties conducted raids at about 319 places and took 155 activists of these organisations into preventive custody early in the morning today. Prominent among them included Com. Darshan Lal, State Secretary Dehati Mazdoor Sabha (CPM Pasla), Com Ruldu Singh, President Punjab Khet Union, Com Harmesh Malri, State President Pendu Khet Mazdoor Union, Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu, State convener Kisan Sangharsh Committee (Piddy), Nirbhai Singh Dhudike, President Kirti Kisan Union District Moga, Gurmeet Singh Bakhtupura, State President AICTU and Darshan Pal, President BKU (D) District Patiala.
During the course of day, another 1,353 persons were rounded up so as to ensure proper maintenance of law and order and minimise inconvenience to the public, said an official release issued by the state government.
During one of the raids, police party headed by ASI Kulbir Singh, In-charge, Police Post Manochahal, Police Station Sadar Tarn Taran, was gheraod by a mob led by Salwinder Singh, President, Jeowala Zone of Kisan Sangharsh Committee (Piddi) in order to prevent it from taking Palwinder Singh s/o Amrik Singh into police custody at village Jeowala. However, ASI Kulbir Singh moved slightly away from the spot to inform his seniors telephonically about the gherao of police party. The farmers continued to gherao vehicles of the police party. The gherao was got lifted by DSP Harpal Singh, Sub Division Gobindwal Sahib at about 6 AM. Members of the Police party informed the DSP that ASI Kulbir Singh had left the spot in order to inform the senior officers. The DSP and other police officials searched the area and found ASI Kulbir Singh’s dead body at some distance from village Jeowala. The dead body of ASI Kulbir Singh was immediately sent for post mortem to civil hospital, Tarn Taran. After looking into the matter a case FIR under Sections 304, 332, 506, 186, 120B, 148, 149 IPC PS Sadar Tarn Taran was registered and out of 9 nominated accused, 3 have been arrested. However, there was no report of any clash or violence in village Jeowala.
No incident of violence of any kind occurred in the state on account of this Rail Roko agitation and rail and road traffic plied normally except slight delay at Tangra and Dhulke. At Tangra and Dhulke, small groups of people squatted on rail tracks. Police acted with utmost restraint and keeping in view the age and infirmity of the agitators managed to persuade them to vacate the tracks. Some agitators squatted at railway stations Tarn Taran and Patti. About 400 persons are squatting on the road at Harike Pattan demanding release of few detained leaders of district Amritsar. DC Tarn Taran and SSP Tarn Taran are present on the spot and are handling the situation, said the release.