Farmer dies in Gharsana lathicharge

Sriganganagar, Oct 25: A farmer who was injured in the police lathicharge during a protest in Gharsana in Sriganganagar district has died.

40-year-old Chanduram Saran was seriously injured in the police lathicharge on the agitating farmers on October 16. Chanduram was admitted to the hospital for treatment. He was, however, released from the hospital one week later. He died in Manjiwas village at his relative's house late yesterday night.

Social organisation and left party members in a press conference in Jaipur alleged that Chanduram had sustained head injuries and was forcefully discharged from the hospital Chanduram's body has been taken to his ancestral village for cremation but his family refused to perform the last rites and are demanding Rs 10 lakh as compensation. They are also demanding employment for dependants and action against the guilty policemen.

However, Collector Kunji Lal Meena said Chanduram's father Pokharram had given a written request to discharge his son from hospital. Mr Meena said Chanduram had fractured his leg and was feeling well while being discharged.

Mr Meena has also requested Chanduram's family members to hand over his body for post-mortem so that actual reasons for his death could be ascertained, which the family members are refusing to do.

Kisan Sangarsh Samiti leaders are on their way to the village.

The situation is under control but tense.

The farmers in Phase I area of Indira Gandhi Canal Project have been agitating for the past two weeks for 58 per cent share of irrigation water and implementation of the water agreement signed.

They are also demanding the release of their arrested leaders Hetram Beniwal and Sahebram Punia.

UNI