The stalemate between farmer groups sitting on an indefinite dharna at the Karnal mini-secretariat and the Haryana government ended last week after the state ordered a judicial probe into last month’s clash between protesting farmers and police, promised government jobs to two family members of a deceased farmer and sent the IAS officer at the centre of the row on leave.
The farmers had started the sit-in on September 7, seeking suspension of Ayush Sinha - then Karnal SDM who had ordered the cops to hit the protesting farmers on their heads on August 28 - and a job for the kin of a farmer killed due to the lathicharge, among other demands. Ten protesters were hurt in the clash with police in Karnal on that day when they tried to march towards the site of a BJP meeting. Sinha was caught on tape purportedly telling policemen to “break the heads” of farmers if they cross the line.
Haryana ACS Devender Singh said the state government will set up an inquiry committee of retired high court judges to probe the lathicharge.
Announcing the agreement at a press meet, Haryana additional chief secretary (ACS) Devender Singh said the state government will set up an inquiry committee of retired high court judges to probe the entire August 28 lathicharge episode. Singh, who was assigned by the Haryana government to resolve the issue, also stated that the controversial SDM would proceed on leave for next one month.