Punjab Farmers Hit Cop With Lathi, Try To Run Over SHO While Going To Protest Site; Three Police Personnel Injured

Tensions escalated in Punjab's Malwa region following violent clashes between Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ugrahan farmers and police on Wednesday (4 December) night at Bhikhi and Ramdittewala in Mansa district.

The confrontation left three station house officers (SHOs) with severe injuries, while vehicles belonging to both farmers and police were damaged, Indian Express reported.

The conflict erupted as around 300 BKU Ugrahan members, led by Jaswinder Brass, president of the Patiala chapter, attempted to travel through Mansa in a convoy of 50 vehicles.

Their destination was Lelewala village in Bathinda, where they intended to join a protest over alleged inadequate compensation for land acquired for a gas pipeline project.

The first clash occurred in the Bhikhi area when Gurvir Singh, SHO of Bhikhi police station, tried to stop the convoy. According to Mansa SSP Bhagirath Singh Meena, the farmers ignored police barricades and allegedly tried to run over the SHO. “Both his arms were fractured, and he has been hospitalised in Bathinda for surgery,” Meena said.

The second confrontation happened in Ramdittewala village, where Jasvir Singh, the SHO of Budhlada police station, sustained a head injury from a lathi strike, while Daljit Singh, the SHO of Mansa City 2, suffered a wrist fracture and an ankle injury. “We are investigating the matter and will register an FIR as per the law,” the SSP added.

Farmers accused the police of using lathi charges to prevent their convoy from reaching Bathinda. However, SSP Meena refuted the claims, stating, “Our officers were merely asking about their destination. The farmers left some vehicles at Ramdittewala and continued ahead. No one has been detained.”