On the 9th day of the farmers' protest, a young farmer died at the Khanauri border between Punjab-Haryana. The deceased was identified as Shubhakaran Singh a resident of Ballo village of Rampura area in Bathinda in his early 20s. A bullet-like mark was found on the back of his head.
Shubhkaran Singh was the son of Charanjit Singh, resident of Ballo village of Bathinda and was the only brother of two sisters. His mother passed away, after which grandmother Sukhjit Kaur helpled in raising the three siblings. According to Shubhakaran's cousin Nirbhay Singh, his uncle Charanjit Singh owns one and a half acres of land in Ballo village and earns his living by farming on this land. Shubhakaran used to help his father in farming. Not only this, Shubhakaran's neighbor and the village numberdar inform that Charanjit Singh's family owed a debt of Rs 18 lakh.
Shubhakaran was present at Khanauri border with the agitating farmers since Wednesday morning. The Haryana Police fired tear gas bombs and rubber bullets at the farmers when they tried to cross the border. Amidst the chaos, Shubhakaran fell on the road after suddenly being hit by something on the back of his head. Fellow farmers immediately picked him up and took him to Khanauri Civil Hospital with the help of an ambulance. Seeing the serious condition there, the doctors referred Shubhakaran to Rajendra Medical College and Hospital, Patiala where he was declared brought dead.
According to Dr. HS Rekhi, Medical Superintendent of Rajendra Hospital, by the time Shubhakaran was brought to Rajendra Hospital from Khanauri border, he was already dead. The medical team declared him dead and kept his body in the mortuary. Dr. Rekhi said that the cause of Shubhakaran's death seems to be a serious head injury. The real cause of death can be told only after the postmortem report comes.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, who was leading the agitation at the Shambhu border, claimed that Shubhakaran died due to bullets fired by the Haryana Police. According to Pandher, Haryana Police forcefully entered the farmers' camps on the Khanauri border. CRPF jawans also took away some tractor-trolleys of the farmers
According to a protestor, when the farmers tried to move forward around 12 noon on Wednesday, the Haryana Police started firing tear gas shells from the front. done. During this firing, fellow protestors claim that a bullet hit the back of Shubhakaran Singh's head.
Family demands loan to be waived off and Rs. 10 Lakh compensation
Shubhkaran's cousin Nirbhay Singh and farmer leader Kaka Singh Kotra demanded that the Punjab government and the central government should give a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to Shubhkaran's family. Also, whatever debt his family has, should be forgiven. Farmer leaders also demanded a government job for one of Shubhkaran's sisters.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann informs that after the post-mortem of Shubhkaran's body, a case will be registered against the officers who killed him and they will be given the harshest punishment from the court.