Sitting on dharna, Rampur farmers told to vacate site

Days after a group of farmers sat on a protest against controversial farm bills at a toll plaza in Mudapande area of Rampur, the local police have sent notices to their homes asking them to discontinue their protest.

The notices were received by over 21 families of the farmers on Monday and Tuesday. In the notice, the protesting farmers have been accused of blocking an important road from where the supply of essential items, including oxygen cylinders, passes through.

The administration also fears that the protest site could become a hotspot for Covid-19.

Confirming the development, station house officer (SHO) of Mudapande police station Nawab Singh said, “The notices to protesters were sent by post. We have appealed to them to discontinue their protest. If they do not discontinue their protest, we will initiate action against them.”

A group of 30 farmers gathered near the Mudapande toll plaza in Rampur on May 27 and sat on protest. The protesting farmers are member of Bhartiya Kisan Union. Somesh Singh, one of the protesting farmers, said that they will discuss the issue with senior members of the union before taking the decision to discontinue the protest.Other than Ghazipur, Mudapande is the only other place in West UP where farmers are continuing protest against farm bills.