A young protester from Ambala, who was seen jumping and getting into a police water cannon vehicle to shut it down, has been charged with attempted murder carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, riot and rape of COVID-19
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The protester has been identified as Navdeep Singh, 26, the son of the leader of a group of farmers, Jai Singh. In a video making rounds on social media, Navdeep can be seen scaling a blue-colored water cannon, turning it off, and then jumping onto a nearby tractor car.
Talking to The times of IndiaNavdeep, in his defense, said he was only trying to protect farmers from being hit by water in such cold weather. “After my studies, I started working in agriculture with my father, who is an agricultural leader. I never indulged in any illegal activity and got the courage from the protesting farmers’ commitment to get in the vehicle and turn off the tap because the it was hurting. ” he said.
Stating that citizens have all the rights to protest against “anti-people laws”, he said: “While we protested peacefully, we were demanding a passage to Delhi but the police blocked our way. We have every right to question the government and protest if it is pass some law against the people. “
Defying tear gas shells and water cannons, they camped on the Delhi borders for several hours, making multiple attempts to break through barricades and resorting to stone-throwing, but the farmers continued their fight against the new agricultural laws.
With flags and shouting slogans, thousands of farmers gathered at various entry points to the national capital in a determined attempt to break through as part of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march as police blocked them with barricades, tear gas shells and batons. Police briefly used lathicharge to control protesters breaking through barricades. Hours later, they were granted permission to enter Delhi and organize a peaceful protest at Nirankari’s land in Burari.
Punjab farmers, representing more than 30 agricultural agencies, had announced that they would go to Delhi via various routes: Lalru, Shambhu, Patiala-Pehowa, Patran-Khanauri, Moonak-Tohana, Ratia-Fatehabad and Talwandi-Sirsa. Tension was mounting at all border points. Farmers had gathered near the borders in tractor carts loaded with rations and essentials for the proposed march. Haryana authorities have imposed prohibition orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in various parts of the state to prevent the assembly of protesters.
Punjab farmers are demanding the repeal of the new farm laws, which they said should be replaced by another set of framed laws after broader consultation with stakeholders. They also want a guarantee on minimum support prices.
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