Punjab Government to Free 450 More Farmers from Police Custody
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Synopsis
On March 24, the Punjab government announced the release of 450 additional farmers from police detention. This decision follows the prior release of around 800 farmers and aims to prioritize those most vulnerable, including women and the elderly. Legal actions are also in progress regarding farmers' belongings and the status of detained leaders.
Key Takeaways
- 450 farmers to be released from police detention.
- Approximately 800 farmers have already been freed.
- Priority given to women, elderly, and disabled individuals.
- Legal measures are being taken to protect farmers' belongings.
- Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal is confirmed to be free.
Chandigarh, March 24 (NationPress) The Punjab government has announced the immediate release of 450 additional farmers from police detention, as disclosed on Monday.
Inspector General of Police, Headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill, provided further insights, stating that the government has previously released around 800 farmers from custody.
He emphasized that the Chief Minister has ordered the prompt release of farmers, which includes women, individuals with disabilities, those suffering from medical conditions, and anyone over the age of 60.
"Following the directives from the Punjab government, we are prioritizing the release of these farmers, and today marks the release of approximately 450 farmers," Gill remarked.
In response to another concern raised by the farmers regarding their belongings, he assured that the government has issued strong guidelines to prevent any misappropriation of farmers' possessions.
"To tackle the issues concerning farmers' belongings, the Patiala district police has appointed SP-rank officer Jasbir Singh as the nodal officer. Farmers facing challenges related to their property can directly reach out to Jasbir Singh at the mobile number 90713-00002 for swift assistance," Gill added, noting that the Patiala police have already filed three First Information Reports (FIRs) on this matter.
In a correlated update, the state government informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday that farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal is not in police custody and is “free.”
The leader of the joint forum “Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political)” has voluntarily admitted himself to a hospital in Patiala, as per government statements.
Justice Manisha Batra took note of the situation and directed the state to allow Dallewal’s family to meet him within the hospital without any obstacles.
On Friday evening, the High Court issued a notice to the government regarding a habeas corpus plea filed for Dallewal, who was allegedly detained unlawfully amid the ongoing farmers' protests.
This plea was filed by Gurmukh Singh, vice president of the Bharti Kisan Union (Doaba), who is affiliated with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. The petition requested an urgent hearing and was considered by Justice Batra after hours, claiming Dallewal’s unlawful detention and seeking his immediate release. It argued that his detention breached his fundamental rights under Articles 21 and 22, as formal arrest procedures were not followed, urging the court to intervene to ensure the safety of Dallewal and other “missing farmer leaders.”
Dallewal was detained along with another farmer leader, Sarwan Singh Pandher, after a meeting with Union ministers in Chandigarh on March 19. Following this, Punjab Police cleared the year-long blockades on national highways at the inter-state borders of Shambhu and Khanauri. Dallewal was transferred to a private hospital in Patiala on Sunday morning, marking the 119th day of his fast on Monday.
Prior to his transfer to Patiala, Dallewal was secured at the PWD rest house in Jalandhar Cantonment.
"The detention seems to be a measure to suppress the farmers’ movement and instill fear among peaceful protesters, thereby violating their fundamental rights to freedom of speech, assembly, and association as outlined in Article 19 of the Constitution," the petitioner concluded.
