Chandigarh: A group of farmers are demanding relief for crop damage. They have allegedly held 12 government officials hostage for several hours at sub-tehsil office in Muktsar district’s Lambi.
On Monday night, the officials, including naid-tehsildar and patwaris, were freed by the police, as protestors refused to let them go, according to an official.
The farmers have been demanding relief for the damage caused to their cotton crop by pink bollworm.
Against the incident the Revenue Officials on Tuesday went on strike.
Police said that over 100 farmers under the banner of farm union, had held a protest outside the sub-tehsil in Lambi on Monday. The protesters entered the office building in the evening and held the officials hostage till midnight, police added.
SSP Sandeep Kumar Malik said that farmers held 12 government officials hostage.
The SSP said that the senior police officers and the subdivisional magistrate there tried to calm them down and assured them a meeting with the higher officials for addressing their concerns.
“But they were adamant and the officials were held hostage until late in the night,” Malik told PTI over the phone on Tuesday.
He said, “Keeping in view the safety of those taken hostage, the administration directed police to take them out safely.”
Malik denied the news of police using force against the farmers for freeing the officials.
“We freed the officials in a restrained and peaceful manner. No force was used. Before moving to free the officials, we requested them (farmers) many times that they can hold their dharna but the government officials performing their duty cannot be taken captive,” he said.
He said that on the basis of a written complaint by the officials, an FIR was registered.
“FIR has been lodged against eight to nine people and some unknown persons,” Malik said.
However, the farmers speaking with reporters have said that the police used force against them for freeing the officials, six to seven protestors were injured.
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