Haryana Government Challenges High Court Order in Farmer’s Death Investigation, Court Questions Police Tactics
Last Updated on March 14, 2024 by News Desk
The Haryana government has filed a Special Leave Petition challenging the High Court’s order to investigate the death of a protesting farmer, Shubhkaran Singh, who died on February 21 on the Punjab-Haryana border. The appeal was filed on March 11, but it is still on the defect list.
The Punjab & Haryana High Court ordered that the investigation cannot be handed over to Punjab or Haryana for obvious reasons. The court constituted a three-member committee, headed by Justice Jaishree Thakur and assisted by Parmod Ban and Amitabh Singh Dhillon.
The court questioned the Haryana government on the type of bullets and pellets used by the Haryana Police and asked them to provide details. The court deemed the death a case of excess police force and called for the Punjab Police to lodge an FIR on the death of the protestor.
ASG Satya Pal Jain submitted that the Central Government is open for discussions with farmer leaders in Chandigarh or Delhi, and remedial measures have already been taken.
The farmers are protesting in demand of a law guaranteeing MSP. The petitioner alleges that Haryana police and paramilitary forces used heavy shelling of tear gas and opened fire on the protestors, leading to Shubhkarn Singh’s death.
The request asks for instructions to document all instances of tear gas shells, pellet guns, rubber and actual bullets used by the police and paramilitary forces. This information will be used to assess whether the use of force by these groups against their own citizens is appropriate, indiscriminate and compassionate.
