Talks on to resolve Gharsana farmers crisis

Sriganganagar, Oct 31 (UNI) Talks are on between leaders of agitating farmers and government officials here today to resolve the dispute over relief package for the family of dead farmer Chanduram Saran who died on October 24 after sustaining injuries in an alleged police lathicharge.

The agitating farmers have been demanding a relief package of Rs five lakh for the deceased's family and a job for one member of the family.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has agreed to pay Rs five lakh but was insisting that the farmers withdraw their second demand, state Congress president B D Kalla had said yesterday.

At least 2000 farmers are camping outside the Sub-Divisional Magistrate's office in Gharsana and waiting for the outcome of the meeting.

Doctors yesterday conducted a post-mortem on Chanduram's body and the autopsy report was handed over to the leaders of Kisan Mazdoor Vyapari Sangharsh Samiti.

Chanduram had sustained injuries at several places on his body and a seven-and-a half cm deep wound on his head and also two fractures on his leg.

The report laid to rest the government's claim that Chanduram may have died of heart attack. However, the autopsy report failed to specify the cause of the death.

Farmers are yet to take a decision on the cremation of Chanduram, who died on October 24. They allege Chanduram had died after sustaining injuries in police lathicharge in Gharsana on October 16 where they had gathered to demand 58 per cent irrigation water from the Indira Gandhi Canal Project.

Chanduram was admitted to a hospital after the alleged lathi charge but the farmers say he was discharged when he was not fully fit.

Since then, the farmers have refused to cremate his body until both their demands are met by the state government.

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