Farmer unions protest, demand compensation for victims of hooch tragedy
Members of seven unions of farmers and farm labourers staged a dharna outside the deputy commissioner's office on Thursday. The protesters were demanding a compensation of Rs 5 lakh and a government job for each of the next of kin of 18 persons, who had died after consumption of hooch at Johal Nangal and Ballewal villages in Gurdaspur district last month.
Members of seven unions of farmers and farm labourers staged a dharna outside the deputy commissioner's office on Thursday. The protesters were demanding a compensation of Rs 5 lakh and a government job for each of the next of kin of 18 persons, who had died after consumption of hooch at Johal Nangal and Ballewal villages in Gurdaspur district last month.
Kirti Kisan Union general secretary Satbir Singh addressed the protestors and said that the sub-divisional magistrates of Gurdaspur and Batala had made a written agreement with the leaders of the unions of the farmers and labourers in the presence of the DC, regarding the demands.
He alleged that deputy commissioner Abhinav Trikha had threatened the members of the families of the hooch tragedy victims of no help, if they protested against the government decision.
He and other speakers also demanded stern legal action against those responsible for the hooch tragedy.
He also demanded financial help of Rs 2 lakh and a government job for the family of the farmer Baljinder Singh of Teja Wheela village who had committed suicide on February 2.
The KKU leader also requested the government to let the SGPC tenants at Khanna Chamaran village in Gurdaspur district deposit their rent.
Satbir Singh appealed to the government not to dispossess the farmers of their lands in the name of laying rail track between Qadian and Beas. The leaders of the KKU,Jamhoori Kisan Sabha,Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan),Punjab Kisan Union,Dehati Mazdoor Sabha,Mazdoor Mukti Morcha and Pendoo Mazdoor Union submitted a memorandum to the additional deputy commissioner Dr Baljit Singh to forward it to the Punjab chief minister.