4 Dalit protesters held during march over panchayat land row

PROTEST HELD AGAINST ALLEGED ILLEGAL AUCTION OF 18 ACRES OF RESERVED PANCHAYAT LAND

SANGRUR: Police arrested four Dalit protesters and detained many others, including women, at Gharachon village near Bhawanigarh when they were about to march towards local MLA and cabinet minister Vijay Inder Singla’s residence with cattle, here on Wednesday. The protest was organised against the alleged illegal auction of 18 acres of reserved panchayat land.

The protesters assembled under the banner of Zameen Prapti Sangharsh Committee (ZPSC) at the grain market of the village even as heavy police force was deployed in the area.

Paramjit Kaur, zonal chief of ZPSC, said the minister and district administration had promised Dalits their share from the common land. “The poor Dalits are facing tough times and their cattle are left to die without fodder. The district administration held a dummy auction and the land was given to Congressbacked people,” she added.

Sangrur SSP Sandeep Garg said the police arrested four leaders after being booked by Bhawanigarh police under Section 188 of the IPC and under the Disaster Management Act.