PROTEST HELD OVER ARREST OF DEBTRIDDEN FARMER
SANGRUR: Police on January 4 arrested a debt-ridden farmer, three days before the launch of the waiver in Mansa in which CM Capt Amarinder Singh distributed cheques to hundreds of farmers.
The farmer, Jagdev Singh, from Ramnagar Chhanna village of the district, was arrested on the orders of additional district judge Sanjeev Joshi. He was produced in the court which sent him to judicial custody till January 31. Jagdev had taken a loan of ₹2 lakh from Housefed in 2001 and the amount now is ₹8.75 lakh with accumulated interest.
The issue came to light on Tuesday when his relatives and farmers approached the Dhuri sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) and accused the Congress government of misleading the farmers in the name of crop loan waiver scheme.
“The government is holding functions to distribute certificates of waiver, while farmers are still being jailed,” said Karamjit Singh Chhanna, block head of Bharatiya Kisan (Dakaunda). “He has sown crop over 1.5 acres. It was impossible that a poor farmer could have repaid the loan,” said Chhanna.
The police said Jagdev was arrested on the orders of court which issued his arrest warrant. “We just followed court orders,” said SHO Harsandeep Singh.
BKU activists also staged a protest outside the SDM’s office on Tuesday but called it off after getting an assurance of release. He, however, was not released till the filing of the report.“I’ve spoken to Housefed officials. We will release him as soon as possible and the loan issue will be resolved later,” said Dhuri SDM Amareshwar Singh.