Curfew still on in Gharsana over cremation issue

Sriganganagar, Oct 28 (UNI) Tension still prevails in Gharsana and Raola towns in Ganganagar district over the cremation of Chanduram Saran, injured in police firing during farmers agitation.

Thousands of farmers under the banner of 'Kisan Mazdoor Vyapari Sangharsh Samiti' are camping with Chanduram's body at 6 DD village, about three kms from Gharsana, and are deciding about future strategy.

Chanduram died early Wednesday morning. The Sangharsh Samiti and Chanduram's family members have refused to cremate his body until the government compensates them with a Rs five lakh package and a job for one of his dependants.

Meanwhile, the state government has refused to budge from their position of getting Chanduram's post-mortem done which can reveal the exact causes of his death. But Chanduram's family have refused the post-mortem proposal.

The farmers allege that Chanduram was seriously injured in the police lathicharge in Gharsana and was forcibly discharged from the hospital which caused his death.

Many leaders including Congress state president B D Kalla, CPM legislator Amraram and farmer leaders were present at the site.

Additional chief secretary D C Sawant toured the tense Gharsana town and held talks with the officials.

There was no relaxation in curfew in Gharsana today, however, it was relaxed in Raola town from 6 am to 9 am.

The Sangarsh Samiti have called for a chakkajam in mandis in Bikaner, Ganganagr and Hanumangarh on October 30.

The farmers agitation began around October 16 to demand 58 per cent irrigation water from the Indira Gandhi Canal Project.

UNI XC RRT SAM HS1528