Farmers block highways after police lathi-charge protesters in Haryana

Chandigarh: Farmers in Haryana block multiple roads across Haryana on Saturday after the police baton-charged farmers who were protesting against a state-level BJP meeting chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on holding local bodies elections in Karnal district.

At least 10 protesters were injured when they were cane charged by the police to stop and disperse as they were forcing their way towards Karnal. BJP state president O.P. Dhankhar was also present at the meeting in Khattar's hometown.

Reports of traffic disruption were received from Hisar, Jind, Bhiwani, Rohtak, Dadri, Fatehabad and Ambala. The traffic bound for New Delhi from Amritsar was disrupted on the Shambu border in Punjab. Also, the traffic bound for Uttar Pradesh via Ambala and Yamunanagar towns was impacted.

Bharatiya Kisan Union's (Haryana unit) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni called for blocking all highways in the state to protest the use of force against the farmers.

"We slammed the state BJP government for using police force on farmers. I request all farmers to come out and block all highways in the state," Charuni said.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha - the umbrella body under which many farmer groups have united to protest the farm laws - leader Darshan Pal urged farmers to carry out a road blockade at 5 p.m. and called for the release of those who were arrested during the clash.

Congress leader and two-time Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda condemned the lathi charge.

"The action on farmers at Karnal is undemocratic and inhuman. Everyone has the right to protest in a democracy. Governments are not run with fear of the bullet but by winning hearts," Hooda said in a tweet.

The BJP government and its leaders, mainly in Punjab and Haryana, have been facing farmers' ire against the three contentious agriculture laws that have triggered widespread protests, particularly on the borders of the national capital, where farmers have been protesting since November-end.