Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Announces Rs 1 Crore Compensation, Govt Job For Family Of Farmer Killed During Protest

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore and a government job for the sister of farmer Shubhkaran Singh, who lost his life during the farmer's protest.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on Friday, declared a compensation of Rs 1 crore and a government job for the sister of farmer Shubhkaran Singh, who lost his life at the Khanauri border point during the farmer's protest, PTI reported.

21-year-old Shubhkaran Singh who was a native of Bathinda, met his demises while 12 police personnel sustained injury during clashes at Khanauri border point on the Punjab-Haryana border on Wednesday. The clash erupted when some protesting farmers attempted to breach barricades.

In a statement, released by Mann on his social media X, said "The family of Shubhkaran Singh, who got martyred during the farmer's protest on the Khanauri border, will be given financial assistance of Rs 1 crore by the Punjab government and a government job to his younger sister. Due legal action will be taken against culprits."

Farmer leaders had demanded financial compensation for Singh's family, employment for a family member, and the initiation of legal action against those accountable for his demise. They also advocated for Singh to be honored as a "martyr," given his roots in Ballo village, Bathinda.

The post-mortem of Singh, whose remains were held at Rajindra Hospital's mortuary in Patiala, was postponed as farmers insisted on their demands being met.

Expressing grief over the loss of the young farmer, the Chief Minister assured strict action against those responsible. Mann asserted, "After the post-mortem, a case will be registered. Those officials responsible for his death will have to face stringent action."

The 'Delhi Chalo' march, led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), has been advocating for various demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops and the waiver of farm loans.

According to the PTI, In response to the death of protesters and injury of 12 police personnel in clashes at Khanauri, farmer leaders temporarily suspended the 'Delhi Chalo' march for two days and planned to determine the next course of action on Friday evening. Thousands of farmers remain stationed at Khanauri and Shambhu with their tractor-trolleys and trucks, persisting in their demands including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops and farm debt waiver.

The Punjab farmers are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases, and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation which was held in 2020-21. 

Farmer Leaders Demand Arrest Of Culprits Accountable For Shubhakaran Singh's Death

Furthermore, farmer leaders remained steadfast in their demands and declared that Shubhakaran Singh's funeral would not take place unless the Punjab government filed charges against those accountable for his death, following Bhagwant Mann's announcement of a Rs Rs 1 crore to the sister of Shubhakaran.

According to the medical superintendent of Patiala-based Rajindra Hospital, Subhkaran suffered a brain injury. The post-mortem was delayed as the farmers pressured the government to accept their demands.

Leader of the farmers, Sarwan Singh Pandher, said that the chief minister of Punjab has promised that people who killed Shubhkaran will face severe consequences. But now, the leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha remarked that the officials are claiming that it was not feasible, PTI reported.

"We have told the (Shubhkaran) family that it may take two days or 10 days. For us money is not important. We are demanding that an FIR be lodged and then cremation will take place," he stated, accusing Punjab government officials of pressuring Shubhkaran's family into agreeing to cremation.

Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the leader of SKM (Non-Political), who is leading the 'Delhi Chalo' march alongside the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, responded to a question by saying that the senior superintendent of police in Bathinda had told them they were unable to file a complaint against Haryana security officers. Dallewal questioned, "If you cannot register a case, then how can you call yourself 'Punjab de rakhe' (Punjab's protector)" The police officer had said that if they filed a case, Haryana security forces would follow suit.

Addressing another question, Dallewal said, "A youth died during our agitation. Our priority is to ensure justice for him. We are concentrating on it. It is up to the Punjab government how soon it will give justice to us."

Regarding the next steps in the march to the national capital, Pandher remarked, "We will hold a meeting and make our stand clear." Punjab CM Mann on Friday announced compensation and a job for Shubhkaran's sister.