‘Haryana cops in no hurry to probe FIRs’

CHANDIGARH: In no mood to start early investigations into cases of violation and breach of barricades by agitating farmers, Haryana Police have decided to go slow in the wake of the present ‘law and order’ situation in the state, according to sources in the police and home department.
Sources confirmed that local police authorities and district administrations had been asked to quantify the loss on account of damage to public and private properties, and vehicles.No official was willing to come on record.
It is alleged that 32 such cases had been registered in districts across the state against agitating farmers for breach of barricades, violence and causing interruption in discharge of official duty by government workers. In some cases, cops have added charges like attempt to murder in cases registered at various districts. “As of now, our priority is to ensure law and order. Also, investigation is a long process. You have to identify accused and then start investigations. Hence, no immediate action in investigation so far,” said an officer of a district where farmer leaders were booked.
Registration of cases has also become an issue with agitating farmers and political parties, especially opposition leaders across the state. “What kind of a dialogue is the government expecting? To our knowledge, they have registered 30-32 criminal cases, and a few cases are of attempt to murder and one of murder. Rest, everybody has seen the use of force by police,” said Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni, whp has been booked under charges of attempt to murder and rioting for an incident that happened in Ambala on NH-44.
The case has been registered on a complaint by a head constable posted at Mohra police post. Meanwhile, leader of opposition Bhupinder Hooda and Haryana Congress chief Selja too have flayed the government. “They are farmers, not robbers. For five days, some farmers are in illegal detention and have not been released so far. The government should not delay in dropping the police cases,” said Selja.
Hooda flayed CM Manohar Lal Khattar over his statement of negligible presence of Haryana farmers in the agitation. “If number of farmers is less, then why has this government registered cases? Who are the persons booked in cases of attempt to murder and murder?’’ said Hooda. Senior police officials said those who were detained under preventive measures had been released. “We had picked up 72 such persons. To our knowledge, all of them have been released,’’ an officer said.