Farmers injured in police lathi charge in Karnal

Haryana Police used force to disperse farmers protesting against the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar this afternoon, injuring at least ten farmers in Karnal.

The farmers had blocked the national highway in their effort to prevent Khattar from reaching the venue of a meeting called by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to decided on the candidates for the forthcoming civic elections.

The farmers’ union had given a call to block all highways and toll plazas in Hayana and neighbouring states. The farmers are protesting against the three farm laws passed by the Centre. The farmers claim that the laws go against the interest of the farmers and help big industrial houses.

Earlier, the protesting farmers tried to reach the venue of the BJP meeting, but were stopped by the police, so they gathered at the toll plaza, where the police resorted to heavy lathi-charge injuring the farmers. Photographs show farmers with severe head injuries.

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Gurnam Singh Chadhuni has appealed to the farmers to intensify the agitation and block highways close to their homes.