Bathinda, 12 November 2024: A violent confrontation between farmers and police broke out at Raike Kalan village in Bathinda on Monday evening, driven by growing frustration over delays in paddy procurement and stringent moisture level checks.
The clash escalated as agitated farmers detained a Tehsildar and a procurement inspector, prompting a police intervention that led to stone-pelting and a lathi charge to control the situation. Bathinda police registered two FIRs against Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leaders and 30-40 unidentified farmers following the altercation.
The standoff began around 3:30 p.m. when about 20-25 BKU members gathered at Raike Kalan grain market. Farmers, dissatisfied with delays in procurement due to strict moisture level inspections, demanded immediate purchase of their paddy crops without adherence to these checks. As tensions rose, farmers detained the Tehsildar and a procurement inspector, accusing them of exacerbating the delays and risking crop spoilage.
By 5:30 p.m., police arrived at the scene and attempted negotiations, which quickly fell apart when a section of the protesting farmers resorted to stone-throwing. The police responded with a lathi charge, successfully freeing the detained officials and dispersing the crowd. “We had to intervene to prevent further escalation and ensure the safety of public officials,” a police spokesperson stated.
In the aftermath, Bathinda police filed two separate FIRs. One names senior BKU leader Jhanda Singh Jethuke, while the other accuses 30-40 unidentified farmers of rioting, unlawful detention, and attempted murder. “Investigations are ongoing, and necessary legal actions are being taken,” confirmed a police official involved in the case.
