A day after the Republic Day violence, when tons of of protesters pressured their means into the Capital and stormed the Red Fort, the Delhi Police has registered 25 FIRs, together with in opposition to over 30 of the 40 farm union leaders who have been concerned in talks with the Centre over the previous couple of months.
One of the FIRs, on the Red Fort incident, names Punjabi movie actor Deep Sidhu and Lakhbir Singh Sidhana alias Lakha Sidhana, gangster-turned-politician and president of the Malwa Youth Federation.
Thirty-seven farm union leaders, together with six spokespersons of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), have been named in an FIR registered on the Samaypur Badli police station, in Outer Delhi, based mostly on a criticism filed by Inspector Anil Kumar.
The six SKM spokespersons who’ve been named are: Jagjit Singh Dallewal, president, BKU (Sidhupur); Balbir SinghRajewal, president, BKU (Rajewal); Darshan Pal, president, Krantikari Kisan Union; Rakesh Tikait, president, BKU; Kulwant Singh Sandhu, basic secretary, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha; Yogendra Yadav, president, Swaraj Party India. Barring Yogendra Yadav, all of the others took half within the talks with the federal government.
The others who have been additionally among the many farm union representatives concerned in talks with the Centre and have been named within the FIR are: Boota Singh Burjgill, president, BKU Dakaunda; Nirbhai Singh Dhudike, president, Kirti Kisan Union; Ruldu Singh Mansa, president, Punjab Kisan Union; Inderjit Singh, president, Kisan Sangharsh Committee; Harjinder Singh Tanda, president, Azad Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Punjab; Gurbaksh Singh, president, Jai Kisan Andolan; Satnam Singh Pannu, president, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee; Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu, president, Kisan Sanghrash Committee; Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president, BKU-Ugrahan; Surjit Singh Phool, president, BKU Krantikari; Harmeet Singh Kadian, president, BKU Kadian; Satnam Singh Sahni, basic secretary, BKU (Doaba); Bogh Singh Mansa, president, BKU (Mansa); Balwinder Singh Aulakh, president, Majha Kisan Committee; Satnam Singh Behru, president, Indian Farmers Association; Bharat Boota Singh Shadipur, president, Bharti Kisan Manch; Baldev Singh Sirsa, president, Lok Bhalai Insaaf Welfare Society; Jagbir Singh Tanda, president, Doaba Kisan Samiti; Mukesh Chandra, Doaba Kisan Sangharsh Committee; Sukhpal Singh Daffar, president, Ganna Sangharsh Committee; Harinder Singh Lakhowal, basic secretary, BKU Lakhowal; Kirpal Singh Nathuwala, president, Kisan Bachao Morcha; Prem Singh Bhangu, president, All India Kisan Federation, Punjab unit; Gurnam Singh Chaduni, president, BKU Haryana; Kavita Kuruganti, Mahila Kisan Adhikaar Manch; Rishipal Ambavatta, president, BKU Ambavatta; Prem Singh Gehlot, president, All India Kisan Mahasabha, Haryana Unit.
The others named within the FIR are: Medha Patkar, V M Singh and Avik Saha.
The FIR in opposition to them lists sections of rioting, prison conspiracy, try to homicide and theft. “The rioters/ protesters and their leaders had a pre-planned objective of not following the mutually agreed route” due to which the violence happened, it says.
After negotiations with Delhi Police, 4 routes have been determined for the farmers’ tractor parade, and 18 unions had given an endeavor to comply with these.
“Around 8.30 am on Tuesday, they first broke through blockades on the Singhu border and were riding on tractors, horses, trolleys, carrying iron rods, sticks and some of them even swords. Despite directions of designated route, they wanted to move towards Outer Ring Road… Announcements were made, but the protesters started rioting, causing injuries to the policemen with swords and lathis, and running their tractor over the police officials with intent to kill,” Inspector Kumar stated in his criticism.
He alleged that the protesters and their leaders had a “pre-planned” goal to not comply with the designated routes, and the timing of the graduation of their “so-called parade” was meant to disrupt the Republic Day parade.
When contacted, among the farmer leaders named within the FIR denied any position within the violence. “I didn’t cross the Singhu border. I condemn the violence. I was satisfied with the route the police suggested and marched there. Police registered a false case against me,” stated Kulwant Singh Sandhu, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha.
“I was at the Singhu border and followed the route given by the police. I didn’t tell anyone to go anywhere. I wanted a peaceful march. They (police) should talk to me and ask me such questions before writing my name in the FIR,” stated Nirbhai Singh Dhudhike, Kirti Kisan Union.
“If police show me proof that I instigated the crowd or I was there during the clashes, I will believe them and they can arrest me. I didn’t go anywhere and was at the Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar. A group of youths surrounded us there and marched towards Delhi. We came back to Tikri,” stated Ruldu Singh, Punjab Kisan Union.
“ I didn’t plan or conspire the clashes. I am not part of any such violent movement. I agreed with the police’s route. I followed it from the Singhu border. What can one do if the protest is hijacked and some move towards Delhi,” stated Balwinder Singh Aulakh, Majha Kisan Committee.
“People will see the truth. It was others who instigated the farmers, not us. I left with a tractor from the Singhu border. At one point, a few farmers asked me to join them and go to Red Fort. These men wanted to indulge in violence. I didn’t. So, I came back,” stated Satnam Singh Behru, Indian Farmer’s Association (Bharat).
“No movement is a concert. FIRs, jails, harassment — these are part and parcel of every movement,” stated Yogendra Yadav.
Police stated a complete of 25 FIRs had been registered throughout 10 districts and 19 folks had been arrested. “We have arrested 19 and detained 50 people in connection with the violence during the farmers’ tractor rally. We are using the facial recognition system and taking the help of CCTV and video footage to identify the accused. Those involved in the violence will not be spared and the farmer leaders will be questioned,” stated Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava.
Shrivastava stated the Delhi Police held 5 rounds of conferences with the farmer leaders earlier than the tractor rally. “The protesting farmers were given permission to hold the tractor rally with terms and conditions. But they did not follow the conditions,” he stated.
“By late evening of January 25, there were indications that they would not keep their word. They brought forward the aggressive and militant elements, who occupied the stage and delivered provocative speeches which made their intentions clear. Farmer leaders were also involved in the violence that broke out during the tractor rally, Some farmer leaders like Satnam Singh Pannu and Darshan Pal gave inflammatory speeches, following which the protesters breached the barricades,” stated Shrivastava.
“Police had many options, but remained calm. While 394 police personnel were injured, 30 police vehicles were damaged in the violence,” he stated.
A 27-year-old farmer, Navreet Singh, died throughout the chaos at ITO when his tractor rammed barricades and overturned. In the FIR filed in reference to the ITO violence, Delhi Police has claimed that Singh was driving the tractor in a rash and negligent method, and safety personnel tried to tug him out to avoid wasting his life after it overturned. According to the FIR, at the same time as police personnel have been attempting to assist Singh, different protesters turned up with tractors and tried to mow them down.
On Wednesday, safety was beefed up in a number of elements of the town, with paramilitary forces stationed in a number of areas like Red Fort, central Delhi and the three farm protest websites.
Home Minister Amit Shah held a gathering with Delhi Police Commissioner Shrivastava, Intelligence Bureau chief Arvind Kumar, and Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla to take inventory of the state of affairs.
Sources stated Delhi Police officers have been instructed to take strict motion in opposition to the rioters and to determine and guide leaders who had instigated or facilitated the violence. Sources stated Shah additionally obtained a report from the Delhi Police on the violence.
“It has been made clear that such violent behaviour on the part of certain elements from the rally cannot be tolerated and a strong message has to be sent through legal action,” stated an official.
Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy known as the protesters’ actions “seditious”, and in addition blamed the Congress. “Desecrating symbols on the day our republic was consecrated is sedition. I salute @DelhiPolice for showing immense restraint in dealing with yesterday’s insurrection. FIRs have been filed & those responsible will face the law. Congress Party’s vulture politics is exposed again, ” he tweeted, shortly after a gathering with Shah.
— With Deeptiman Tiwary, New Delhi
