The Hindu : National : Troops out in Rajasthan town

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Tuesday, Oct 17, 2006
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Troops out in Rajasthan town

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: Troops were called out in the tehsil town of Gharsana in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district on Monday evening after clashes broke out between protesting farmers and locals.

Nearly 50 persons, including a good number of women, were injured when the police resorted to a lathi charge and fired teargas and rubber bullets to disperse a huge crowd, headed for the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate.

The injured included Durga Swami, Rajasthan general secretary of the All-India Democratic Women's Association. Cameras of at least two mediapersons were damaged in the police action.

The day marked the completion of a week of "Mahapadav" (siege) of farmers in Gharsana, led by the Kisan Mazdoor Vyapari Sangarsh Samiti, demanding early release of water into the Indira Gandhi Canal for sowing of rabi crops and implementation of an earlier agreement between farmers and the Government on distribution of irrigation water.

The main action was at Gharsana, where senior CPI (M) leaders Vasudev and Amra Ram, CPI State secretary Tara Singh, and Congress leaders Heeralal Indora, Harchand Singh and Sohanlal Naik were present. According to information here, the police resorted to force as the farmers burnt an effigy of Chief Minister.

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