Farmers charged with sedition for allegedly attacking Haryana deputy speaker’s car

The Haryana police have invoked sedition charges against a group of farmers who allegedly attacked and damaged the official vehicle of state Deputy Speaker Ranbir Gangwa in Sirsa district on July 11, reported The Hindu on Wednesday. The farmers were holding a demonstration against the Centre’s farm laws and Bharatiya Janata Party leaders.

Confirming the charges of sedition have been invoked, Sirsa Senior Superintendent of Police Arpit Jain told The Hindu on Wednesday that an investigation was underway in the case. “So far, no arrests have been made in the case,” he added.

The police registered a first information report against two farmer leaders – Harcharan Singh and Prahlad Singh – and 100 unidentified protestors. Besides sedition, they have been booked under Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) of the Indian Penal Code.

On July 11, farmers had staged protests at several events attended by BJP leaders in districts of Fatehabad, Jhajjar and Ambala.

In Sirsa, they allegedly pelted stones and smashed the windscreen of Gangwa’s car. However, the deputy speaker was not hurt. “They were not farmers but anti-social elements,” Sirsa district BJP president Aditya Devi Lal claimed after the alleged attack. “This is not the right way of protest. The police administration should take action…

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