Punjab Policeman slaps protesting woman in Gurdaspur

Gurdaspur, May 18: A video of a woman farmer being slapped by a police officer in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district has gone viral on social media, sparking allegations of police resorting to force while dealing with farmers protesting against the acquisition of land for the Bharatmala project before being paid compensation.

 

 

According to Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee president Sarwan Singh Pandher, the woman was slapped when farmers were protesting against land acquisition on the Delhi-Katra National Highway on Thursday. There was heavy police deployment at Bhambri village in Gurdaspur district. Pandher alleged that the police were resorting to force against the farmers and even the turban of a farmer was removed. “Women were also subjected to verbal abuse.

 

 

 

Several farmers were also arrested,” Pandher added. According to Pandher, the government had reached an agreement with farmers that land would not be acquired until the compensation is paid to them. “The government had demanded time till August but after the Jalandhar by-election victory, the government is taking Punjab for granted. If the government does not step back, we will block railway lines across Punjab at 1 pm on Friday,” he said. Last month, farmers in Gurdaspur protested against the acquisition of land for the Bharatmala Project, which involves the construction of highways, by staging a rail blockade protest.

 

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Farmers had parked their tractors on the railway tracks and raised slogans against the central and state governments. The protests were called off after assurances from the district administration.