Curfew imposed in Gharsana after a farmers stir turned violent

Sriganganagar, Oct 10 (UNI) Curfew has been imposed in Gharsana and Rawla in Ganganagar district today after a proposed farmers' rally turned violent, in which three policemen were injured.

The rampaging farmers held three policemen hostage in Sakhi village, about 23 km from Rawla and beat them up. They were later released.

Two out of the three are said to be in serious condition. The farmers also set afire three police vans and many shops in the area. They had put up road blockades and stopped two trains.

Earlier, the farmers had planned to organise a maha rally in Gharsana sub-divisional office, demanding more water for irrigation. Sensing the situation, the district administration and police had tightened the security arrangements in view of the rally and promulgated Section 144 prohibiting rallies and assembly of people in the area.

But at least 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 were caught in the stone pelting, who were later beaten up mercilessly by the farmers. Rawla police station incharge Shubh Singh sustained head injuries.

As the situation turned out of control, the district administration imposed curfew in Gharsana and Rawla.

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

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