Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal farmers told to submit Rs 50 lakh bonds

BAREILLY: To deter farmers from protests and inciting local residents against the recently passed farm laws, police in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal have asked several of them to file Rs 50 lakh bonds. Farmers claimed similar notices of lesser amounts were sent out in other districts of western UP as well, including Moradabad.
On Friday, BKU district president Rajpal Singh Yadav said, “The administrative officials are trying to convince us to give in writing that we will ensure peace and not campaign against the farm laws.But, we have refused.” According to him, the amount of Rs 50 lakh was deliberately mentioned by the administration to intimidate farmers.
An official in Sambhal, however, said that it was a clerical error and the original bond amount dictated to the clerk was Rs 50,000.
Those told to sign the bond will have to pay the amount if they continue to indulge in activities against which they have been warned in the notice. In case they don’t and are not able to pay, their properties will be confiscated. It has been issued under section 107/116 [magistrate order against any person who is likely to commit breach of peace] of the CrPC on basis of a report submitted by police. A notice under this section is a preventive measure to pre-empt breach of peace. Similar notices were issued during anti-CAA protests in UP last winter.
The notices with an amount of Rs 50 lakh were served under section 107/116 CrPC to Rajpal Singh along with farmer leaders Jaiveer Singh, Satendra alias Gangafal, Brahmchari, Veer Singh and Rahdas. While similar notices with an amount of Rs 5 lakh were served to Sanjeev Gandhi, Arjun and Rajveer Singh. In the notice, the recipients were informed that the administration has got a report that they had misguided the farmers and brought them on road and blocked the traffic. They were asked to file a reply to the notice.
Sub-divisional magistrate Deependra Yadav, however clarified, “The amounts of Rs 50 lakh and Rs 5 lakh were due to a clerical error. We had issued notices to ensure that these people don’t indulge in (any) non-democratic activity. Later, when this error came to our notice then we immediately ordered withdrawal of all the notices. Many farmers also contacted us and told us verbally not to issue any such notice and they promised to stay away from any activity that may disrupt peace. Now, we have asked the police to provide us another report with the past history of the farmers who were served notices. Anyone with a clean past will not be served the notice.”
Rajpal Singh said, “We have not given anything in writing despite repeated efforts by local SHO and other senior cops. We have not committed any crime and fighting for our rights is always constitutional. However, we have told them that we will maintain peace as per law.”