Police arrest 100 farmers for protesting on Trident's land

Barnala, Nov 9 (UNI) The Punjab Police today rounded up about hundred farmers for violating prohibitory orders and protesting on land owned by the Trident Group at Dhaula village.

A large police contingent remained on vigil in the villages of Dhaula, Fatehgarh Chhana and Sanghera to prevent the farmers from carrying out their threat to sow wheat on the land that was acquired by the company from farmers a couple of years back.

Backed by nine Kisan Unions, the farmers are accusing the Punjab government of selling fertile agricultural land to private companies.

Barnala Civil Judge Ajaib Singh had on Tuesday restrained Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leaders from holding protests on or near the Trident land. About 150 BKU activists were taken into preventive custody after they made known their resolve to reclaim the 376 acres yesterday.

All entry points leading to the disrupted land have been sealed by the police. The farmers have demanded that the government withdraw the land acquisition notice and restore the land to the farmers.

UNI XC HS KD HT1548