Lakha Sidhana kicks off campaign in Sangrur to mobilise support

: Gangster-turned-activist Lakha Sidhana, who is wanted by the Delhi Police in the Red Fort violence incident, on Thursday started a village-to-village campaign to mobilise people to participate in the protests at the Delhi border against the Centre’s three agriculture laws.

Addressing a gathering at Sangrur district’s Mehlan Chowk village, Sidhana appealed to people to join the ongoing agitation to “save Punjab”. “We appealed to people to move to Delhi in groups. If we manage to reach the Delhi borders in large numbers, the farmers will definitely win this battle,” said Sidhana.

Meanwhile, his supporters said a heavy police force was deployed in the Dirba area where Delhi cops were also present to arrest him.

Fearing arrest, he left the protest site and appeared after his supporters along with Punjabi singer Kanwar Grewal staged a protest in front of the Chhajli police station. The local police denied the presence of Delhi cops in the area or any orders to arrest the fugitive who was to hold protests at Shadihari, Chhajli, Daula Singhwala, Jakhepal and Ratta Khera villages in the district.

Sukh Jagraon, a protester, said, “We will not call off the protest until police assure us that they will not stop us from holding protests.”.

Dirba deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Mohit Agarwal said they deployed cops to maintain order. “We appealed to them to hold the protest peacefully. We had neither any intimation from the Delhi Police nor direction to arrest anyone,” the DSP added.