The Hindu : Front Page : Tikait’s supporters turn village into fortress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 02, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Tikait’s supporters turn village into fortress

Special Correspondent

BKU men denying access to security personnel
Steps taken to prevent any law and order problem

LUCKNOW: As the impasse over the arrest of Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Mahendra Singh Tikait continued for the second day, 20 companies of the Rapid Action Force and the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) have been pressed into service at Sisauli village in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh.

With BKU men denying access to security personnel, the village has been converted into a virtual fortress by Mr. Tikait’s supporters, who have outnumbered the police. The BKU leader’s sons, Rakesh Tikait and Surendra Tikait, have already been arrested.

Top police and administrative officials, including the IG, Railways, Gurdarshan Singh, were camping in Sisauli and supervising the operation in the village situated in the sugarcane belt of western Uttar Pradesh.

‘No compromise’

Principal Secretary of the State Home Department J.N. Chamber told newspersons here on Tuesday that there would be no compromise on the issue.

He said the arrest warrant issued against the BKU leader by a Bijnor court would be executed at all costs. Dr. Chamber said the only option available to the Muzaffarnagar district administration was to arrest Mr. Mahendra Singh Tikait. Though there was no timeframe, he would be arrested soon.

Steps had been taken to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the event of his arrest, Dr. Chamber said.

The situation in Sisauli village on Tuesday was described as normal after Monday’s incidents of stone-pelting and violence by the BKU supporters, who thwarted the attempts of the police and RAF to arrest Mr. Tikait.

The present situation is a fallout of an alleged derogatory reference made by the BKU leader against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati at a farmers’ rally in Bijnor district on Sunday. The rally was organised by the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader, Swami Omvesh. Following the alleged casteist remark, the Bahujan Samaj Party supporters went on the rampage. An FIR was lodged against the BKU leader at a police station.

Support growing

Support for the BKU leader continued to swell, creating the possibility of the incident assuming a political colour. RLD president Ajit Singh has given a call for a farmers’ “panchayat” at Sisauli on April 8.

The Samajwadi Party has planned dharnas and demonstrations on issues related to the farmers.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page