A fake call made by an impostor in the name of superintendent of police (SP) compelled the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha leader Rakesh Tikait to cancel his trip to Maharashtra’s Yavatmal, reports The Times Of India.

The impostor told the farmer leader that he would be quarantined for 14 days, which led to Tikait calling off the trip.

Rakesh Tikait who is leading the framer protests around Delhi against the new farm reform laws was supposed to hold the first ever major public address out of the national capital on Saturday (20 February).

“Tikait was called by a person claiming to be the SP Yavatmal. He said, if Tikait came to Yavatmal, he would be put into 14 days quarantine. As it would hamper the protests at Ghazipur near Delhi, Tikait decided to stay back,” said Sandeep Gidde-Patil from the Kisan Morcha’s Maharashtra wing.

“I told them if they still want to go-ahead with their plans, even the police will have to gear up to deal with the situation. But I also asked them to take a responsible decision considering the situation and themselves convince Tikait to not come,” said Dilip Bhujbal, superintendent of police.

Earlier the district administration in Yavatmal has denied permission to the February 20 ''Maha Panchayat'' of farmer leader Rakesh Tikait due to rising COVID-19 cases, but the organiser Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) was firm on holding the public meeting.