The final rites of farmer Shubhkaran Singh, who tragically lost his life amidst clashes between protesting farmers and Haryana security personnel, were solemnized in his hometown of Bathinda district, Punjab, on Thursday.
Shubhkaran, aged 21, succumbed to injuries sustained during clashes at the Khanauri border point on the Punjab-Haryana border on February 21. The fatal incident occurred as some protesting farmers attempted to breach barricades, resulting in Shubhkaran's demise and injuries to 12 police personnel.
Amidst widespread grief, representatives from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) are leading the ongoing 'Delhi Chalo' march to advocate for various farmer demands, notably including a legal assurance of minimum support price (MSP) for crops and the waiver of agricultural loans.
Fellow farmers paid their respects to Shubhkaran as his body was transported from the Rajindra Medical Hospital in Patiala to the Khanauri border. Along the journey, farmers marched alongside the ambulance, demanding justice for Shubhkaran and accountability for those responsible for his untimely demise.
In a poignant tribute, farmer outfits laid their flags on Shubhkaran's body, symbolizing their collective homage to the fallen comrade. Subsequently, his mortal remains were conveyed to his ancestral village, Balloh in Bathinda, where the final rites were performed.
"The agitation is continuing at Shambhu and Khanauri border points," said Pandher while speaking to reporters.
He said a meeting for paying tributes to Shubhkaran will be held by both the forums of SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha at Balloh village in Bathinda on March 3 and asked people to attend it in large numbers.
The post mortem of Shubhkaran took place on Wednesday night after the Punjab police registered a case of murder at the Patran police station in Patiala.
The farmers had been demanding that they would allow the post mortem only if the FIR was registered in the death of Shubhkaran.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said a case was registered after consulting legal experts.
Investigation will take place now to know who was responsible and from the post mortem report, it will be known what was the cause of death, he further said.
Mann said Shubhkaran's family will be given Rs 1 crore and his sister will be given a government job.
Earlier, Punjab Inspector General of Police Sukhchain Singh said the police have registered a zero FIR in the Shubhkaran case.
A zero FIR can be registered by any police station irrespective of jurisdiction when it receives a complaint regarding a cognisable offence.
The farmers protesting to press the Centre for their various demands are staying put at the two protest sites on the Punjab-Haryana border.
Their 'Delhi Chalo' march was put on hold for two days after a protester was killed and around 12 police personnel were injured in clashes at Khanauri on February 21.
Two days later, the farmer leaders said the protesters will continue to camp at Khanauri and Shambhu on Punjab's border with Haryana till February 29 when the next course of action will be decided.
The farmer leaders had earlier said they will not end their agitation until their demands are met, while indicating that their stir may continue even if the model code of conduct comes into force.
The standoff between farmers and the Centre over their various demands continues.
On February 19, farmer leaders taking part in the 'Delhi Chalo' agitation rejected the BJP-led Centre's proposal for procuring pulses, maize and cotton at the MSP by government agencies for five years, saying it was not in favour of the farmers.
In the fourth round of talks with the farmer leaders on February 18, a panel of three Union ministers had proposed that government agencies would buy pulses, maize and cotton at the MSP for five years after entering into an agreement with farmers.
The Punjab farmers are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.
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