Mohali: At least three people have lost their lives during the farmers’ protest since November 26.
Dhanna Singh (45) from Mansa district in Punjab passed away near Mundhal in Bhiwani district, on the night of November 26, due to an overhead collision of his tractor with the truck full of sandbags. The truck of sandbags was used by the Haryana Police to block roads. In the same incident, two farmers who were riding the tractor with him were also injured.
The agitating farmer was a member of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakaunda). After the passing away of Dhanna Singh, farmers demanded compensation of Rs 20 lakh, waiver of his loans and a government job for the next of kin.
According to media reports, Dhanna Singh had been very active in mobilising support for the protests against the farm laws. His body was sent back to his village and his fellow farmers continued to march to New Delhi.
Protesting farmers have told the media that the Haryana administration should be held responsible for the death of Singh, because the trucks and stones put on the roads caused an obstruction to his tractor.
On November 29, Janak Raj Aggarwal (55), died after the car he was resting in caught fire. A mechanic from Dhanula in Punjab, Aggarwal had accompanied the agitating farmers to provide his services to repair their tractors and trucks.
According to the Indian Express, the car caught fire at 12:30 am. Though the farmers tried to rescue him, they were unsuccessful. The Jhajjar police SP confirmed to the newspaper that no foul play was suspected and that Aggarwal died in his sleep after the car he was resting in caught fire.
Reportedly, Aggarwal had been helping farmers and volunteering for them since they had been agitating in Punjab. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan), one of the largest agitating unions of Punjab, has made demands to both the Centre and the Punjab governments to waive his loans, a compensation of Rs 10 lakh and a job for the next of kin of the deceased.
A press release by BKU Ugrahan on the same day paid tribute to Aggarwal, calling him a “martyr” who died in the line of duty.
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On the night of November 29, another 55-year-old farmer Ghajjan Singh from Ludhiana, passed away at the Delhi border near Bahadurgarh. Fellow farmers told the press that he died due to a heart attack. According to the Indian Express, Singh had a land holding of 3 acres and had been part of the agitation against the Central laws since October.
Encircled file picture is of Gajjan Singh (55) who died Sunday night outside #Delhi border towards Bahadurgarh side. He was unmarried and the entire family of 3 brothers has 3 acres of land holding in a #Ludhiana village. @iepunjab @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/izl9246ak1
— raakhijagga (@raakhijagga) November 30, 2020