Priest kills self near Singhu, ‘suicide note’ says hurt by farmers’ plight
While Baba Ram Singh is reported to have shot himself with his licensed revolver, Kundli police station SHO Ravi Kumar said they were yet to ascertain the weapon used. “His associates have given a statement to the police that he died by suicide. Our probe is on,” he said. Updated: December 17, 2020 10:20:28 am
The body was taken to Karnal for a postmortem examination. Officials said it will later be taken to the Nanaksar Gurdwara in Singhra village, where a large number of his followers have gathered. The last rites are set to be held on Friday.
Day before death, Sikh preacher went to farm protest site, say associates
In a purported suicide note, Baba Ram Singh, also known as Nanaksar Singhra Wale, had expressed pain over the plight of farmers protesting against the Centre’s farm laws. Updated: December 18, 2020 8:29:11 am
Followers queue up to pay respects to Baba Ram Singh at Singhra gurdwara. (Express photo by Sukhbir Siwach)
THE SIKH preacher who died of a bullet injury Wednesday at Kundli near the Singhu border of Delhi, with his associates saying that he shot himself with his licensed revolver, had visited the farm protest sites twice earlier, including on the day before his death, according to followers.
An officer, requesting anonymity, further said: “We are in contact with farmer leaders, urging them to not increase the number of protesters at Delhi borders. If any major development takes place, we will reason and negotiate with them and try to stop them, if necessary. We have appealed to the Punjab government that more people should not be sent to the borders… With winter setting in, we would try to ensure the numbers don’t go up further. The situation is increasingly becoming unsustainable; more than 30-40 people have been hospitalised due to different illnesses.”
On the other hand, farmers at Singhu border said they won’t budge unless the farm laws are repealed. “Fateh karke hi jayenge (We will return only after winning the battle),” said Puran Singh, who travelled 520 km from Bachivind village on Punjab’s Atari border to Singhu. His tractor was part of a cavalcade of 100 tractor trolleys that arrived from Punjab villages.
Over 60,000 at borders, Haryana cops say situation becoming unsustainable
To curb further movement, police have installed nakas at the Punjab and Haryana borders. “The idea is that people feel there is police presence at the borders to minimise movement of protesters,” said a Haryana police officer. December 15, 2020 3:17:14 am
Haryana Police said more than 60,000 protesters are camping at the borders while the farmer leaders said the figure is higher. (Representational)
With the number of protesters at Delhi’s borders growing by the day, senior officers in Haryana Police said the borders can’t take more people as “the situation is increasingly turning unsustainable”. Haryana Police said more than 60,000 protesters are camping at the borders while the farmer leaders said the figure is higher. Apart from far flung areas of Punjab, farmers have been arriving from Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country to
In Haryana, farmers firm on repeal demand, say ready to intensify stir
Despite government’s assurances, the farmers feel they may lose the facility of minimum support price (MSP) in coming years. But bigger apprehension of the farmers is for their agricultural land. December 11, 2020 12:23:57 pm
Haryana BKU President Gurnam Singh Chaduni at Singhu border. (Photo source: BKU)
With their unions rejecting government proposal for amendments in the agri laws, the farmers from Haryana said they will now hold more meetings in the villages to intensify the stir.
“I don’t know technicalities as this is a task of our senior leaders but we are ready for any sacrifice. We have full faith in our leadership and will continue the stir,” says Ranbir Fauji, a resident of Ghickara village of Charkhi Dadri district. An ex-serviceman Ranbir, 55, is now active in the village to mobilise farmers for the next phase. “Now, we are ready to sit on dharnas i