Farmers Protest Live Updates: Punjab CM Mann Announces Rs 1 Crore Compensation for Kin of Protester Killed at Haryana Border

Two days following the farmer Shubhkaran Singh’s death at the Punjab-Haryana border, aged 22, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann declared an ex gratia of Rs 1 crore for the deceased’s family. “The Punjab government will provide financial support to the family of Shubhakaran Singh, who was killed during the farmers’ protest at the Khanauri border, in the amount of Rs 1 crore. Additionally, his younger sister will be appointed to a position in the government. We’ll take appropriate legal action against the offenders. On the microblogging site X, Mann posted, “They are carrying out their duty.”

Resuming on Friday is the farmer-led “Dilli Chalo” march. In support of Shubhkaran Singh, farm leaders have called for Friday to be marked as a “Black Day.” The demand that the Punjab government declare Singh a “martyr” and urge people to fly black flags over their houses, businesses, and cars in protest of his “murder” was spearheaded by Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee convener Sarvan Singh Pandher and Bharti Kisan Union (Sidhupur) president Jagjit Singh Dallewal.

The Haryana Police said on Friday morning that the National Security Act (NSA), 1980 will not be used against farmer leaders who are protesting along the state’s border with Punjab, hours after announcing that action would be taken under the law. Officers clarified that they had only started the process and had not yet used the NSA against the farm leaders. One of the things to keep an eye on today is the opposition’s reaction and the Union government’s potential response to the farmers’ main demands. Up until now, all attempts at negotiation between the Center and the farm unions have failed.

10:56 (IST)23 FEB 2024

The Haryana Police said on Friday morning that the National Security Act (NSA), 1980 will not be used against farmer leaders who are protesting along the state’s border with Punjab, hours after announcing that action would be taken under the statute. Officers clarified that they had only started the process and had not yet used the NSA against the farm leaders. “This is to clarify to all concerned that the matter of invoking provisions of the National Security Act on a few farm union leaders in Ambala district has been reconsidered and it has been decided that the same will not be invoked,” Inspector General of Police (Ambala), Sibash Kabiraj, stated in a statement on Friday morning.

10:02 (IST)23 FEB 2024

Demands to label 22-year-old farmer Shubhkaran Singh of Bathinda’s Ballo village a “martyr” intensified in the wake of his death, casting doubt on any prospects of a settlement between the Centre and the protesting farmers. Farm leaders halted talks with the Center after Shubhkaran suffered a back neck injury on Wednesday while protesting at the Khanauri border. Since Wednesday, his corpse has lain at the hospital because farm outfits won’t let the police perform an autopsy. The demand that Singh be declared a “martyr” by the state government was spearheaded by Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee convener Sarvan Singh Pandher and Bharti Kisan Union (Sidhupur) president Jagjit Singh Dallewal. They also urged people to fly black flags over their homes.

10:00 (IST)23 FEB 2024

At the Khanauri border crossing in Sangrur district on Wednesday, a 22-year-old farmer from Punjab passed away from a head injury. The farmers claimed that Haryana security personnel had also used rubber bullets and tear gas shells against them while they were embarking on their ‘Dilli Chalo’ march, which was organized to demand a guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP). According to Punjab officials, the Haryana Police had blocked the border crossings at Khanauri and Shambhu in order to halt the march, resulting in a total of 26 injuries. A young man from Bathinda district’s Balloh village named Shubhkaran Singh became the first victim of the farmers’ protest when he passed away from a head wound. He was pronounced “brought dead” at the Patiala, Rajindra Hospital. What caused Shubhkaran’s head was unclear.

09:57 (IST)23 FEB 2024

Following the demise of Shubkaran Singh, a 22-year-old farmer, at the Punjab-Haryana border, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann declared an ex gratia of Rs 1 crore for the deceased’s family two days later. “The Punjab government will provide financial support to the family of Shubhakaran Singh, who was killed during the farmers’ protest at the Khanauri border, in the amount of Rs 1 crore. Additionally, his younger sister will be appointed to a position in the government. We’ll take appropriate legal action against the offenders. On the microblogging site X, Mann posted, “They are carrying out their duty.”