Curfew imposed, Gharsana, Rawla tense

Sriganganagar, Oct 10 (UNI) Curfew has been imposed in Ganganagar district today after a proposed farmers' rally (Mahapadav) over irrigation water supply turned violent, and three policemen were seriously injured.

According to home minister Gulab Chand Kataria, curfew has been imposed in Gharsana and Rawla as the situation turned out of control. He said 10 more police companies have been sent to bring the situation under control and the Collector and SP are camping on the site.

The farmers are still agitated, although several CPM leaders have reached the spot to pacify the farmers.

The rampaging farmers held three policemen hostage in Sakhi village, about 23 km from Rawla under Gharsana town and beat them up. The policemen were later released, but two of them, both of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC), are in serious condition. The farmers also set three police vans and many shops in the area on fire. They have put up road blocks and stopped two trains.

The farmers had planned to organise a maha rally in Gharsana sub-divisional office, demanding more water for irrigation. The district administration and police have tightened security arrangements in view of the rally.

Section 144 has been invoked.

4,000 farmers assembled and started pelting stones at around 3,000 policemen on duty. The policemen had to flee from the scene to escape the farmers' ire.

Two RAC policemen got caught in the stone pelting, and were mercilessly beaten up by the farmers. Rawla police station incharge Shubh Singh sustained head injuries.

As the situation turned for the worse curfew was imposed.

administration imposed curfew in Gharsana and Rawla.

The Kisan Vyapari Sangharsh Samiti had organised a rally at SDM headquarters over demands of allocation of water for irrigation in the first phase of the Indira Gandhi Canal Project.

Former minister Dularam and district Congress Committee president Prithvipal Sandhu have been arrested along with 52 others.

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