Help pours in for Barnala youth hurt in police action

PANCHAYAT OF THE YOUTH’S NATIVE VILLAGE PANDHER IN BARNALA DISTRICT HAS DECIDED TO GIVE HIS FAMILY A 10-MARLA PLOT TO CONSTRUCT A HOUSE

BARNALA: Days after the photo of a youth with untied hair and bloodied face went viral on social media, the panchayat of his — Jagsir Singh alias Jaggi Baba’s — native village Pandher, has decided to give his family a 10-marla plot to construct a house. Social organisations and political parties are also coming forward with monetary help, bricks and other construction material for the family.

Jagsir (25), who used to serve langar at the local gurdwara, was participating in the Delhi protests and sustained head injuries in the lathicharge by the police. He was welcomed warmly by the locals on his return to the village.

“Jagsir comes from a poor family and he was fighting for farmers’ rights. The villagers held a meeting and decided to give 10-marla land for a pucca house. He is a religious man and was staying with his elderly parents who are dependent on him,” said Harmeet Singh (48), the Congress-backed sarpanch of the village.

Shiromani Akali Dal spokesperson Winnerjit Singh Khadial and Aam Aadmi Party’s Bhadaur MLA Pirmal Singh Khalsa also visited the village and offered construction material and financial assistance on Tuesday.

“Jagsir was brutally assaulted by Delhi Police at Tikri border but he stood firmly and opposed the black laws. Despite injuries, he carried on with the protest. I contributed for his house with a trolley of bricks and sand,” said Khadial.

AAP MLA Primal Singh said, “The village panchayat offered a piece of land for a pucca house and I gave ₹21,000 as donation. Jasgir had set an example by fighting against unjust. We are proud of him.”