Gujarat Police Unleash Brutality, Lathi Charge Protesting Farmers

AIKMS strongly condemned lathi charge and tear gas firing on 5000 protesting farmers of Sanand, Gujarat, who were marching to Gandhinagar against the government having diverted irrigation water for their fields for Sanand industries. On Tuesday (Feb 14) about 5000 farmers began the march on tractors. They were from 32 villages of the area including Veeramgam, Bavla, and Sanand. Led by DSP RV Ansari they were stopped at Nal Sarovar and brutally lathi charged with even women and children being attacked by the men in uniform. When they protested by pelting stones tear gas shells were lobbed to disperse them. The injured farmers are being treated at Sola Civil Hospital. Here’s a report in Different Truths.

The central executive Committee (CEC) of AIKMS has strongly condemned lathi charge and tear gas firing on several thousand protesting farmers of Sanand, Gujarat, who were marching to Gandhinagar against the government having diverted irrigation water for their fields for Sanand industries. Farmers have been left starved for both irrigation and drinking water and their Rabi crop is facing a severe drought, while big corporates draw the benefit of Sanand canal water being diverted for them by BJP government of Gujarat, according to a press release.

It was added that while the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is conspicuous by his silence on the issue, his party and the government are not only depriving farmers of water meant for them, but also the right to peacefully represent their problems.

On Tuesday (Feb 14) about 5000 farmers began the march on tractors. They were from 32 villages of the area including Veeramgam, Bavla and Sanand. Led by DSP RV Ansari they were stopped at Nal Sarovar and brutally lathi charged with even women and children being attacked by the men in uniform. When they protested by pelting stones tear gas shells were lobbed to disperse them. The injured farmers are being treated at Sola Civil Hospital.

However, Ansari has claimed injuries to seven policemen and none to the civilians. He has taken 20 farmers into custody under various allegations, the release stated. The issue of dispute relates to the diversion of Narmada Canal water meant for the villagers to the newly established industries of the area, leaving the farmers to suffer. This issue highlights the attitude of the Gujarat government as well as the central government, pro-corporate and anti-farmers. Their policies is to handover all resources including land and water, meant for the people to gain employment and earn by working on them to the giant corporates for seeking better profits, it was asserted.

All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha has called for all-India protest programs on this issue. It has demanded suspension of the policemen involved and a magistrate enquiry into the incident, according to the press release.