Day after pipeline protest for drinking water, FIR against 31 in Haryana’s Hansi

Hisar: Hansi Police have registered an FIR against 31 farm activists and several unidentified protesters for allegedly attempting to damage the Rajli-Hansi drinking water pipeline and blocking the Hansi-Barwala road during a protest in Chanot village.Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Hansi SP Vinod Kumar said the case was registered on a complaint by public health department sub-divisional officer (SDO) Sheela Devi, who alleged that protesters obstructed govt work and disrupted traffic during Monday's agitation.The protest escalated when villagers and farm activists allegedly reached the pipeline site carrying hammers and iron rods. Police said the protesters later placed large pipes on the Hansi-Barwala road, disrupting traffic for nearly two-and-a-half hours.The blockade was lifted after talks between protesters and district officials. However, the agitation resumed on Tuesday, with women joining the protest and demanding a drinking water connection from the pipeline passing through the village.According to the complaint, officials, including Hansi SDM Rajesh Koth and police personnel, appealed to protesters to maintain peace and keep the highway open. The protesters allegedly ignored the appeals, blocked traffic and attempted to remove the pipeline near Kharkari Mor.Those named in the FIR include farmer leaders Anoop Chanot, Satyawan, Himanshu, Dashrath Malik, Suresh Koth, Dilbag Hooda, Kailash Malik, Vikas Sisar, Raju Kharad and Abhimanyu Kohad, among others.Farmer leaders said the agitation would intensify. Protest leader Beliram Fauji announced that 51 women would begin an indefinite hunger strike from Wednesday, while 101 men would join the fast from Thursday.The dispute centres on villagers' demand for a drinking water connection from the Rajli-Hansi pipeline project. While residents argue that the village should benefit from a pipeline passing through its area, officials maintain that the project is meant exclusively to supply drinking water to Hansi town.