Two dozen hurt as farmers, police battle in Ganganagar

Sriganganagar, Oct 20 (UNI) At least two dozen people, including four policemen and women, were injured in violent clashes between agitating farmers and police in Ganganagar district of Rajasthan today.

Heavy police force was sent to Raola after the clashes.

Senior police and district officials have reached the site. The clashes occured in 7 KD village and 12 KND village.

When policemen raided the 7 KD village in the morning to arrest agitating farmers, they were stopped by the women there.

The police then lathicharged the women to disperse them and later lobbed tear-gas shells, which left one dozen women injured including one pregnant woman identified as Anju.

According to eyewitnesses, a teargas shell seriously injured Kali, wife of Thakarram. Roshni Devi, wife of Ramswaroop, Girdawari wife of Kishanram, three girls Santosh, Annu and Mamta and wife of Satpal were also hurt in the clashes.

The police had to return as the women posed a strong challenge to them but arrested four people from the village.

The second incident occured in 12 KND village where the villagers resisted the police raids. The protestors included a number of women.

The police then resorted to lathicharge to disperse the crowd. Elderly Kaluram and several women were injured in the lathicharge.

The villagers alleged that the police fired rubber pellets on innocent women and girls.

After the news of police lathicharge spread, thousands of people gathered on the road near 12 KND and blocked the roads by cutting down trees.

Sensing the tense situation and the highly agitated villagers, the policemen posted in the Raola town, left their posts and returned to the police stations.

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