Bathinda : A Punjab Police team was attacked on Monday by members of a farmers' union in Raike Kalan village, Bathinda, during the ongoing paddy procurement process.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Harbans Singh Dhaliwal confirmed that an Inspector and a Naib Tehsildar were briefly held captive by the farmers. An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) suffered injuries in the attack and was hospitalised.
DSP Dhaliwal said, "In Raike Kalan village, the farmers' union gheraoed the Inspector and Naib Tehsildar during paddy procurement. When our Police party arrived, they requested the release of our officers, but the farmers' union didn't relent."
"When the Police party tried to get them released, they (farmers' union) attacked them. One of our officials was injured. Our vehicles were vandalised. Tehsildar and Inspector were freed. We are speaking with the offices if others were injured too. An ASI-rank officer was attacked with the intent to kill. He has sustained injuries. He was attacked with sticks, a kirpan and a machete...We will take action as per law." he added.
This incident comes amid increasing criticism of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab over its handling of paddy procurement. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Tarun Chugh on October 30 accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's administration of politicising the issue.
The ineffective paddy procurement process reveals the administrative inefficiency of the Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann-led government, Chugh said. As per Chugh, the Centre had allocated over Rs 41,000 crore for procurement, yet the state's machinery collapsed, creating a crisis for farmers, he alleged.
Punjab farmers last month have protested at around 60 locations, frustrated by delays in selling their paddy at government markets. CM Bhagwant Mann had earlier assured that procurement is ongoing and underlined the state's contributions to India's food stock.
They also urged the Centre to increase the procurement rate for dry harvests from 0.5 percent to 1 percent, warning of potential delays affecting wheat planting.