A video showing a top district official in Haryana asking policemen to ensure farmers who are protesting against BJP leaders get “head injuries” has surfaced on social media, drawing criticism from a wide section of people including BJP MP Varun Gandhi.
Some 10 people were injured Saturday after the state police lathi-charged a group of farmers who had stopped traffic on a highway while heading towards Haryana’s Karnal to protest against a BJP meeting, where Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, state BJP chief Om Prakash Dhankar and other senior leaders were present.
I hope this video is edited and the DM did not say this… Otherwise, this is unacceptable in democratic India to do to our own citizens. pic.twitter.com/rWRFSD2FRH
— Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) August 28, 2021
In the video, Karnal’s Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ayush Sinha is seen standing in front of a group of policemen and instructing them that no protesting farmer should go beyond a certain barricade in the area.
“It is very simple and clear, whoever he is, wherever he is from, no one should be allowed to reach there. We will not let this line be breached at any cost. Just pick up your lathi and hit them hard… It’s very clear, there is no need for any instruction, just thrash them hard. If I see a single protester here, I want to see his head smashed, crack their heads,” Sinha is heard saying in the video.
Protests by farmers on major roads and highways – including the protest by thousands of farmers camped out around the Delhi border for nine months now – have been criticised for affecting vehicular traffic.
They want the centre to withdraw three controversial farm laws.
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