'Head Trauma, Fractures, Rope Tied Around Neck': Farmer Leader Claims Arrested Protester 'Tortured' In Custody

The farmer leader vehemently condemned the alleged police misconduct, terming such actions as “utterly unacceptable”.

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing farmers’ protests and a day ahead of nationwide tractor march to assert their demands, Gurmanmeet Singh Mangat, the secretary-general of the Progressive Farmers Front claimed that an arrested protester was “brutally beaten up” by the Haryana Police personnel, news agency ANI reported.

Speaking to the media, Mangat vehemently condemned the alleged police misconduct, terming such actions as “utterly unacceptable”.

"Our delegation visited our fellow farmer brother, Preetpal Singh, this morning, who bore the brunt of brutal police assault while in custody. He is currently undergoing treatment at PJI Rohtak Hospital. Our team learned that despite PJI Rohtak recommending his transfer to PGI Chandigarh for treatment, Haryana Police obstructed his transfer. Our legal team also intervened, securing a court order from the Punjab High Court to facilitate his transfer to PGI Chandigarh," the farmer leader said.

According to Mangat, Preetpal Singh suffered serious injuries, including head trauma, a minor jawline fracture, and multiple fractures in his left leg. Mangat alleged that Singh was subjected to further brutal treatment, including being dragged with a rope tied around his neck, leaving visible marks.

“We learnt from his family members that 14 to 16 police personnel assaulted him in custody,” ANI quoted Mangat as saying.

Mangat challenged the actions of the law enforcement authorities, questioning whether Singh was treated as if he were a terrorist or a spy.

“I want to ask the authorities concerned, was he a terrorist? Was he an infiltrator sent across the border by the Pakistan army? Was he a spy? Even for war criminals, such treatments are not acceptable under the Geneva Convention. The incident raises larger concerns about our youth. Can someone so young, below the age of 30, be subjected to such horrific treatment,” ANI quoted Mangat as saying.

Highlighting the toll of the protests, the farmer leader said a total of 167 farmers sustained injuries, with six admitted to Rajendra Hospital Patiala and PGI Chandigarh in critical condition, and six farmers lost their lives.

“Some media houses are peddling a biased narrative of the ongoing protests. I urge them to be more humane and considerate in their reportage,” ANI further quoted Mangat as saying.