India’s farmers double down in ‘fight for next generation’ even as police allegedly fire pellet guns on protesters

Hospitals have treated at least 100 victims of pellet wounds since the protest began, and rights groups have urged the Supreme Court to intervene

But Haryana police have denied the use of pellet guns against the farmers, insisting only tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets were used

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Farmers holding chains shout slogans during a protest demanding minimum support prices for all crops at a toll plaza on the outskirts of Amritsar. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:00pm, 21 Feb 2024

Lucky Ghrama, 28, was marching in the farmers’ protest in India when he was stung by a sharp pain in his back. He said it was pellets that had pierced through his skin.

“This is the first time we are experiencing pellets being fired at us. So, I had no idea what had hit me,” Ghrama, who took seven hits, said while on a makeshift bed next to his tractor-trolley with friends.

Thousands of angry farmers last Tuesday began the “Delhi Chalo” protest, marching on the capital to hold the Indian government accountable for unfulfilled promises, including a law to guarantee minimum support prices (MSP) for 23 crops.

Lucky Ghrama, 28, was hit with pellets fired by the security forces. Photo: Bhat Burhan

But the march stalled at the Punjab-Haryana border, where a heavy contingent of police used tear gas, rubber bullets and what protesters said were pellet guns.

Haryana’s director general of police Shatrujeet Kapur has denied the use of pellet guns against farmers, saying police had followed procedure and “only used tear gas, water cannons and lastly rubber bullets”.

Ghrama remained adamant on the protest despite his injury. “This is a fight for our next generation. I don’t mind sacrificing my life for the welfare of my child. We will break all barriers and march all the way to Delhi,” the father of one said.

Human rights groups from Punjab have written to the Supreme Court’s chief justice, urging India’s top court to stop the use of pellet guns against farmers.