A confrontation broke out in Bhitewadh village of Gurdaspur district between protesting farmers and district authorities over the alleged forced acquisition of farmland for the Bharatmala highway project. The standoff, led by members of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, turned serious as the police intervened to take control of the disputed land.
Farmers accused the National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) of proceeding with land acquisition without disbursing full compensation to landowners. Despite repeated assurances, they claim that payments remain pending, prompting strong resistance from the local farming community.
Eyewitnesses reported that several farmers and leaders were detained by the police and forcibly taken away in buses to undisclosed locations. The situation grew tense as officers dragged some protesters through the fields, with reports emerging of turbans being tossed during the scuffle—an act considered deeply disrespectful in Sikh culture.
A large number of women also joined the protest, raising slogans against the Punjab government and central authorities involved in the highway project.
Farmer leaders Rashpal Singh Bharth and Gurmukh Singh Khan Malak, addressing the protesters, condemned the administration’s actions. “Farmers whose land payments are still pending should not be subjected to forceful possession. The district administration and police are ignoring our pleas and acting in a dictatorial manner,” they said.
The leaders insisted that only lands for which full compensation has been paid should be taken over. They also accused officials of mistreating leaders during the operation.
The crackdown was led by senior police officials, including SP Rajinder Sharma and DSP Kulwant Singh Maan, with tehsildars and administrative officers present on-site. A prolonged verbal altercation between the farmers and officials preceded the police action.
Tensions remain high in the region, with farmer unions warning of intensified agitation if the government fails to resolve the compensation dispute and halt further land seizures.
Follow us
