31 farmer leaders booked for alleged attempt to damage Bhakra water pipeline in Haryana

HISAR: Hansi Police have registered an FIR against 31 farmer leaders and several unidentified protesters for allegedly attempting to damage the Bhakra drinking water pipeline and blocking the Hansi-Barwala road during a protest in Chanot village.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Hansi Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar said the case was registered based on a complaint filed by Public Health Department SDO Sheela Devi. The complaint alleged that protesters obstructed government work and disrupted traffic during Monday's agitation.

According to police, the protest escalated on Monday afternoon when a group of villagers and farmer leaders reached the pipeline site carrying hammers and iron rods. Officials alleged that when attempts to damage the pipeline failed, protesters placed large pipes on the Hansi-Barwala road, blocking traffic for nearly two-and-a-half hours.

The blockade was later lifted following discussions between protesters and district officials, and the agitation was temporarily suspended. However, the protest resumed on Tuesday, with women joining the dharna and demanding a drinking water connection from the pipeline passing through their village.

The complaint stated that Duty Magistrate Sheela Devi, accompanied by Hansi SDM Rajesh Koth and police personnel, reached the protest site around 1 pm on Monday. Despite appeals by officials to maintain peace and avoid disrupting traffic, demonstrators allegedly raised slogans, blocked the highway and attempted to remove the pipeline near Kharkari Mor.

Among those named in the FIR are farmer leaders Anoop Chanot, Satyawan, Himanshu, Dashrath Malik, Suresh Koth, Dilbag Hooda, Kailash Malik, Vikas Sisar, Raju Kharad and Abhimanyu Kohad, along with several others.

Farmer leader Beliram Fauji said the agitation would be intensified in the coming days. He announced that 51 women would begin an indefinite hunger strike on Wednesday, while 101 men would join the fast from Thursday. Protesters have also proposed taking out a symbolic "funeral procession of the government" on Friday.

Meanwhile, the administration has issued a notice to Dayanand, owner of the tractor allegedly used during the attempt to remove the pipeline. In response, Dayanand claimed he was operating the tractor on his private land and alleged that the pipeline had been laid without the consent of landowners or adequate compensation.

The dispute centres on villagers' demand for a drinking water connection from the Rajli-Hansi pipeline project, which is being constructed to supply water to Hansi town. While villagers argue that their settlement should also receive water from the pipeline passing through the area, authorities maintain that the project is intended exclusively for urban water supply.