Farmer leader sent to judicial custody after he questions minister at training camp

A farmer leader of Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur), Nirmal Singh Sidhu from Jasseana village here, who had on Saturday publicly questioned Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian during a farmers’ training camp and was subsequently taken into preventive custody, has been sent to judicial custody.

Nirmal was produced before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), who remanded him to judicial custody.

Some farmers said Nirmal had raised concerns related to hybrid variety of paddy, but was stopped by the police and taken into custody. Later, he raised some slogans condemning the state government for gagging the voice of farmers.

Meanwhile, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal had planned a farmers’ gathering at Doda village here on Tuesday.

A police officer, pleading anonymity, said farmer leader Nirmal Singh tried to vitiate the atmosphere at the public programme when Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian was addressing the gathering. “Nirmal was taken into preventive custody. Later, the SDM court sent him to judicial custody,” the officer added.

Punjab