SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, June 1: Giridih police resorted to lathi-charge on farmers to stop them from committing self-immolation at Ambedkar Chowk under Sadar police station of the district on Wednesday afternoon.
As per their pre-announced programme, hundreds of farmers along with female members under banners of Kishan Manch assembled at Ambedkar Chowk at around 1.30 pm and tried self-immolation by sprinkling petrol.
On this, the police resorted to the lathi charge to stop them and took the leaders into custody to avert any untoward incident.
Giridih SDO Vishal Khalko and SDPO Anil Singh told media persons that the police had to use force to stop the farmers from immolation bid. No one was injured in the lathi-charge. Some agitators including females were taken into custody.
However, the agitating farmers leaders alleged that many activists received major injuries in the lathi charge and were admitted to a private hospital to avoid arrest.
“At first, the police warned them to not do anything major when the farmers reached with petrol cans. But when they ignored the call, police used force to stop the,” said the officials.
Kishan Manch of Giridih had been agitating for the last one month against the alleged irregularities in the circle office especially, in getting the copy of Register-2 and District Khatiyan. Agitating Kishan Manch leaders had alleged that without paying bribes, the staff do not give the copy.
On Tuesday, hundreds of farmers blocked the road in the city at Tower Chowk. The police cleared the road and took 86 activists into custody.
