Protests Intensify as Farmer Dies by Suicide at Shambhu Border

 A 55-year-old farmer protesting at the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana reportedly died by suicide, marking the second such tragedy at the protest site within three weeks. The farmer, hailing from Pahuwind in Punjab's Tarn Taran district, was part of a prolonged demonstration led by the SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, which began on February 13, 2024. Protesters are demanding a guaranteed minimum support price (MSP) for crops from the central government.

According to reports, the deceased farmer was deeply distressed by the government's inaction on the protesters' demands. Farmer leader Tejvir Singh confirmed to PTI that the farmer took the extreme step at the Shambhu border protest site, where he had been stationed for nearly a year. Despite being rushed to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, he succumbed.

This incident follows the December 18 suicide of another farmer at the Khanauri border, reportedly anguished over the deteriorating health of Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a 70-year-old farmer leader who has been on a fast-unto-death since November 26.

Growing Concerns Over Farmer Leader's Health

Dallewal's health continues to deteriorate, raising fears among protesters and farmer leaders. On Tuesday, leaders issued stark warnings, emphasizing the potential for unrest if Dallewal's condition worsens. "God forbid if anything untoward happens to Dallewal ji, then perhaps the situation may not remain under control of the Central government," farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar cautioned.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Patiala, Mandeep Singh Sidhu, noted that Dallewal has refused medical assistance despite his critical state.

Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene directly. “The Punjab government is deeply concerned about Dallewal’s health condition. I appeal to the Prime Minister and Union Agriculture Minister to engage with him. Even a telephonic conversation from the Prime Minister could resolve the crisis and reopen Punjab's borders, which are causing hardships for the public,” Singh told ANI.

Farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points for nearly a year, demanding a resolution to the MSP issue and protesting against perceived government inaction. The situation underscores the mounting pressure on the central government to address the demands of protesting farmers and avert further tragedies.