Farmer unions join protesters at Bathinda-Chandigarh highway as family demands justice after their son’s death

After a Kabaddi coach, Hariwnder Singh, died due to a massive clash on May 26, hundreds of locals had gathered from his native to stage a protest at Bathinda-Chandigarh after police refrained from including detailed information about his death.

Now with the recent development, it has been found that farmer unions have also extended their support to the family who had claimed that it was due to the clash and no other reason was involved in the death of the coach.

The protest was classed as the police was neither giving out much information nor was filing any report in the matter, which angered the family of Singh. Following the discrepancy, an 11-member committee was formed from Chauka village, from where Singh belonged, to talk to the police.

The committee also consists of members of BKU Dakaunda but even after the involvement of SSP and IG, no immediate result has been made public. Hence left with no resort, the protestors continued with their dharna on Friday as well blocking the highway for the second day in a row.

The issue has become more sensitive as the matter involves alleged usage of drugs. The clash that allegedly killed and the person who is reportedly to be blamed for the death of the Kabaddi coach was allegedly involved in drug smuggling also. His kin demanded the charges of drug smuggling in the report and added that compensation along with employment for one of the family members must also be given.

The complaint was registered at Gill Kalan police station and states that some of the villagers attacked Harwinder and some of his friends on May 26. The villagers were identified as Gurjeet, Gagna, Babbu. The complaint was only registered for stealing poultry and nothing else and that angered the family members.

The family stated that the coach succumbed to death after being continuously beaten by ‘drug smugglers’. During the protest, Harwinder’s father said that he had absolutely no idea why police included the charges of theft.

“We have no idea why police have mentioned theft of poultry as the reason for the clash in the FIR. He also used to stop the group which clashed with him from selling or consuming drugs,” added his father. He also stated that his son was only attacked by the fellow villagers because he stopped them from consuming or selling drugs.

He was fixated on not creating his son’s body till justice was served. Another villager also confirmed that the theft incident had taken long back so bringing it back now was shocking for them as well. The unions along with villagers concluded that they will continue to protest till each of their demands is not fulfilled.