Farmers’ stir: Cops beat us up,took away innocent,claim villagers

Aarti (15) is physically challenged. She bears bruise marks all over her back and leg,sustained on Saturday night when she tried to save her brother from being allegedly beaten up by police,who was later taken away. “The policemen jumped walls,came into our house and damaged property. When my daughter tried to stop them from harassing my husband and son,they beat her up,” claimed her mother Sarita.

Sarita has not stopped crying since that night,while Aarti sits by solemnly. The door of their house is broken,drawers and cupboards have been emptied. This is one among the many allegations of police atrocities in Bhatta Parsaul,where the agitation over land acquisition between farmers and policemen spun out of control.

The lanes of the village lie deserted,while women wait at the doorways of their houses for the release of their sons and husbands. They allege that police entered their houses,beat them up and took away the men. Even young boys and old men were not spared.

Among the villagers,Viro and Rinki claim they have no idea why they were victimised,since they don’t own a lot of land to enter the protest against the government. Trishna Sharma,whose 10-year-old son was allegedly taken away and a part of their house set on fire by police,was inconsolable.

“This is not our fight and we have lost everything,”said Asha,a housewife.