Farmers march to Rawatsar despite prohibitory orders

Sriganganagar, Nov 14 (UNI) Thousands of farmers agitating in Hanumangarh district's Chaiyan village, demanding irrigation water supply, today started their march towards Rawatsar where prohibitory orders have been imposed.

Kisan Mazdoor Vyapari Sangharsh Samiti had yesterday urged the Chaiyan farmers, who have been agitating for the past two weeks, to march to Rawatsar today where district administration had imposed Prohibitory orders sensing the tense situation.

Meanwhile, farmers have started their agitation in Lakhuwali village of Hanumangarh from today.

At the meeting in Chaiyan, CPM leaders including legislator Amraram, state secretary Vasudev Sharma and others charged the government with repressing the farmers' movement for rightful share of irrigation water.

Security arrangements have been tightened in Rawatsar following the farmers' march towards the town. Senior district and police officials are camping in Rawatsar to monitor the situation.

Supporting the farmers, the Congress party today began an agitation in TWD canal near Lakhuwali village.

Meanwhile, farmers lead by Samiti's president Sant Lekha Singh in Ganganagar's Gharsana assembled in the town's grain market, flouting prohibitory orders.

However, the police officials did not try to remove the agitators inspite of the prohibitory orders.

The farmers in Phase I areas have been agitating for adequate irrigation water supply from the Indira Gandhi Canal Project since a month.

UNI XC RRT SHB HT1645