Farmers lay siege to Mansa admn complex

 Twenty protesters arrested after mild cane charge at Gobindpura village.

An estimated 10,000 farmers from various districts of Punjab today thronged the Mansa Deputy Commissioner’s office in protest against the land acquisition in Gobindpura village and the BDA Enclave, Bathinda.


Women, children and the elderly were among the protesters. They squatted at the open space in front of the official residence of the Mansa SSP where they held langar (community kitchen) and served tea and snacks.
The farmers demanded restoration of land to the farmers who had not accepted government cheques, Rs 1 lakh compensation to farmhands, withdrawal of police security from Gobindpura village and a notification to cancel land acquisition at the BDA Enclave in Bathinda.


Farmers of 17 unions decided to continue the dharna till their demands were met. While the number of farmers kept swelling, a handful of policemen were seen deployed at the protest site. The farmers arrived in tractor-trailers, trucks, SUVs and cars which led to chaos on all roads leading to Mansa. Family members from Ward No. 5 of the BDA enclave, Bathinda, also reached Mansa to register their protest against “forcible acquisition” of land for Urban Estate Phase-IV and V. Twenty farmers were arrested after a mild cane charge at Gobindpura village in the evening.


The police searched a house where they took away Rs 20, 000 in cash, alleged farmers’ leader Ram Singh.
Read more:http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110823/punjab.htm#1