Police using military weapons against us: Farmers

Ahead of a meeting with a panel of the Centre, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Thursday alleged that police were using weapons used by the military against the agitating farmers.

Pandher, who was holding a press conference, displayed some ammunition similar to smoke shells and rubber bullets.

"We are showing something which is used by military only, one is tear gas, another is smoke shell air burst, and smoke shell ground burst. After hitting the target it bursts and causes injuries, this is only used by military and not by police. High explosive ammunition is being used. Ammunition that is expired are being used so that when records are checked it will not come in it. SLR bullets are being fired, that too of private purchase" Pandher alleged.

"In the entire nation, arrests are being made, farmers are not getting allowed to come out of their houses" Pandher added.

Referring to an action against farmers by the security personnel deployed by the Haryana authorities at the Punjab-Haryana border, Pandher slammed paramilitary personnel for using "force" against farmers, leaving many injured.

Pandher claimed that the paramilitary force allegedly used smoke cell air bursts and smoke cell ground bursts against farmers.

He also said the prime minister should speak to the three visiting Union ministers to resolve the farmers' issues.

Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai will meet the farmer leaders at 5 pm here over their various demands, including a law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.

Despite the force used against farmers, the farmer leaders were going to hold talks with the three Union ministers on Thursday, he said.

Addressing the media at the Shambhu border, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Pandher said protesting farmers' demands should be accepted.

"We want that the prime minister should himself speak to the deputation (of union ministers) which is coming (for the meeting) and resolve the demands of farmers," he said.

"We want our demands to be accepted," the farmer leader said.

"Either accept our demands or allow us to hold a peaceful protest," he added.

Referring to the suspension of mobile internet services, Pandher alleged that the government wanted to "crush us (farmers) like Manipur which we are seeing".

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' agitation to put pressure on the Centre for their demands, including a law on MSP for crops and loan waivers.

Farmers from Punjab have assembled at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders as part of their 'Delhi Chalo' call.

Besides a legal guarantee for MSP, the farmers are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstate the Land Acquisition Act 2013, withdraw from the World Trade Organisation, compensation for families of farmers died during the previous agitation.

With inputs from PTI