Protesting against the addition of severe charges including attempt to murder under Section 307 and issuance of arrest warrants against 25 farm leaders by the Punjab police in the case of breach of security during Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022, farmers on Tuesday held a demonstration in Ferozepur district.
The farmers who staged the protest claiming that the said cases registered against their 25 leaders were “false’’, were associated with various farm unions including Krantikari Kisan Union, Kirti Kisan Union, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakaunda) and Qaumi Kisan Union Union.
Raising slogans against the Central and Punjab governments, the protesters demanded immediate withdrawal of these cases.
The farm leaders held that on January 5, 2022, PM Modi’s motorcade was unexpectedly diverted via road due to adverse weather which encountered a protest of farmers who were not aware of PM’s road travel near Ferozepur. The same caused a roadblock for the PM’s motorcade following which the PM convoy returned without reaching the rally in Ferozepur.
The farm leaders further held that as farmers neither intended to nor harmed the PM’s convoy the Punjab police initially registered an FIR under 283 IPC (obstruction in a public way) but later added severe charges including Section 307 (attempt to murder).