Farmers agitating against the three farm laws called off their protests in Karnal district of Haryana on Saturday, nearly a week after they laid siege to the town and district in pursuit of proper punishment to the now suspended Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ayush Sinha, who had been caught on video telling police to crack the heads of farmers.

This evening, talks held in the presence of ADC Devendra Singh and farmer representatives, a bilateral agreement was reached on three demands. It was decided that a retired High Court judge will investigate the lathicharge case involving Ayush Sinha, who will go on leave during the investigation to be conducted over a month. Two members of the family of late farmer Sushil Kajal will be given jobs in a week. These agreements were reached after three earlier meetings failed.

Both the state government and protesters agreed that an inquiry will be held against IAS officer Ayush Sinha, till then he will have to remain on the leave. On September 1, Sinha was transferred out of Karnal as part of a reshuffle in the district administration.

Devendra Singh confirmed that the farmers have called off their protests. Singh said a judicial inquiry will be conducted into the lathicharge on August 28 and will be completed within a month.

On August 28, Haryana Police lathicharged farmers blocking a highway on their way to Karnal to protest against Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. At that time SDM Ayush Sinha was in charge and was caught on camera making controversial comments which led to violence. Over 10 protesters were injured whereas one farmer Sushil Kajal succumbed to his accidents as a result of a police motion.

The farmers have been revitalised by the Muzaffarnagar mahapanchayat in Uttar Pradesh on September 5 when farmer leaders including Rakesh Tikait and Gurnam Chaduni hosted a lakhs-strong show of strength. The farmer leaders announced that they will not henceforth leave room for Hindu-Muslim polarization.

Muzaffarnagar is also the infamous region where anti-Muslim riots in 2013, which left 62 people dead, saw the BJP find a new pocket of influence among the Jats of Western Uttar Pradesh, who had been alienated from their traditional political party, the Lok Dal of Charan Singh and his son, the now deceased, Ajit Singh.

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Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday appeared to be defending the police crackdown on protesting farmers in Karnal but acknowledged that the IAS officer, who made crack the head remark against farmer, choose wrong words. A video of the Sub Divisional magistrate’s had surfaced online, in which he was seen intructing the policemen to use force on the famers. The video went viral and sparked outrage on social media with opposition demanding resignation of CM Khattar.

Addressing a presser in Chandigarh, Khattar said although the officer’s choice of words was not correct, strictness had to be maintained to ensure law and order situation there was kept under check, he said at a press conference in Chandigarh.

If any action has to be taken (against the officer), it would first have to be assessed by the district administration. The DGP is also looking into it. To maintain law and order, strictness had to be ensured, he added.

However, CM Khattar slammed Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for demanding his resignation.

Khattar said who is Singh to demand his resignation. Instead, he himslef should tender his resignation as he is behind farmers’ agitation. Framers protesting on Delhi borders are from Punjab, not Haryana.

Asked about the incident, Union Minister Narendra Tomar also defended the action, saying it was the responsibility of the state to maintain law and order. Sometimes, officers are required to take action to maintain law and order, he said, adding that the farmers okay with farm laws were standing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi but there were some who were against it.

Meanwhile, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala had condemned the incident in Karnal and termed it as unfortunate. Chautala promised action against the IAS officer amid mounting opposition’s attack against the M L Khattar government over the Saturday lathi-charge on farmers and their demand of strict action against the magistrate.

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Chautala said this is not expected from any officer. Such action is against the conduct of any officer. During training, IAS is trained to deal with the situation by controlling the emotions. An IAS officer, who is a duty magistrate, must act with caution. The party will definitely ask for action after investigation.

Karnal SDM Ayush Sinha, a 2018-batch IAS officer, was caught on camera telling police to break farmers’ heads during the farmers’ protest.

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Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala broke his silence on lathi-charge on farmers in which many were injured. Deputy CM said that action will be taken against IAS officer Aysh Sinha for instructing the police to break the head of the protestors.

After the lathi-charge on farmers in Karnal a video made rounds on the internet in which the SDM of Karnal, Ayush Sinha was heard instructing the police that if any protesters try to come here then they (police) are free to break their heads. He further said that we had not been able to sleep for the past two days, so now is the time to do this, and feel free to do the lathi-charge.

Dushyant Chautala told reporters that the use of these kinds of words by an IAS officer for farmers is condemnable. He also said that action will be taken against him.

On the other hand, Karnal SDM Ayush Sinha told reporters that the stone pelting started at many places and it was during the briefing to use force proportionately.

Deputy CM Chautala further said that in the clarification Ayush Sinha said that didn’t he sleep for the past two days. Chautala further said that it must be the case that Sinha was not aware that the farmers are sleepless for the last 200 days.

On Saturday, a video went viral in which the IAS officer Ayush Sinha was heard instructing the policemen that if the farmer tries to cross the border, then the policemen are free to break their heads. He further said that he is giving clear instructions. Any doubt? He further said that he hopes that there is no doubt, everything is clear that they won’t let farmers cross this barricade.

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