Noida: “We will continue the fight from within jail,” Sukhveer Pehelwan had told his fellow protesters when taken away on Tuesday. The Bharatiya Kisan Sangathan leader was among the 11 farmers whose arrest on Tuesday brought more farmers out onto the streets in protest. By the following morning, Sukhveer had launched an indefinite fast in jail.
Those who know him are not surprised. Police call him a “habitual offender” and his supporters say he never gives up. “He has been involved in local protests and highlighted farmers’ problems for the past 10 years,” said Sudesh Pehalwan, his brother. When a dumping ground was about to come up in Sector 123, Sukhveer’s protest was among the loudest. Then he started a campaign for a cleaner Sarfabad, the village he hails from. Then, it was a stadium for Sorkha that he wanted.
Sukhveer is a former Armyman and wrestler-turned- activist. “He represented the Army in many tournaments as a wrestler. He won the Bharat Kesari, a freestyle wrestling contest organized by the Haryana government to mark the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev,” Sudesh said.
The protest demanding disposal of abadi land — areas marked for habitation and meant only for non-agricultural purpose — following an order by the Allahabad high court was, in fact, a delayed one. “The protest had been planned in November. But the Ayodhya verdict came around the same time. The Noida Authority promised to look into our problems within a fortnight from the verdict. We approached the MP and the MLA. Both assured action but nothing was done. Farmers had to take to the streets,” Sudesh said.
To police, Sukhveer’s appearance at a protest site always spells trouble. “He indulges in protests. Between 2014 and 2020, five cases — rioting, criminal trespass, disobedience to order promulgated by public servant, promoting enmity and attempt to murder — were lodged against him,” additional DCP Ranvijay Singh said.
Sudesh, however, said he had no knowledge of these cases. “Sukhveer is not someone with a criminal bent of mind. I am sure the charges are simply related to the protests he has led,” he added.
Those who know him are not surprised. Police call him a “habitual offender” and his supporters say he never gives up. “He has been involved in local protests and highlighted farmers’ problems for the past 10 years,” said Sudesh Pehalwan, his brother. When a dumping ground was about to come up in Sector 123, Sukhveer’s protest was among the loudest. Then he started a campaign for a cleaner Sarfabad, the village he hails from. Then, it was a stadium for Sorkha that he wanted.
Sukhveer is a former Armyman and wrestler-turned- activist. “He represented the Army in many tournaments as a wrestler. He won the Bharat Kesari, a freestyle wrestling contest organized by the Haryana government to mark the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev,” Sudesh said.
The protest demanding disposal of abadi land — areas marked for habitation and meant only for non-agricultural purpose — following an order by the Allahabad high court was, in fact, a delayed one. “The protest had been planned in November. But the Ayodhya verdict came around the same time. The Noida Authority promised to look into our problems within a fortnight from the verdict. We approached the MP and the MLA. Both assured action but nothing was done. Farmers had to take to the streets,” Sudesh said.
To police, Sukhveer’s appearance at a protest site always spells trouble. “He indulges in protests. Between 2014 and 2020, five cases — rioting, criminal trespass, disobedience to order promulgated by public servant, promoting enmity and attempt to murder — were lodged against him,” additional DCP Ranvijay Singh said.
Sudesh, however, said he had no knowledge of these cases. “Sukhveer is not someone with a criminal bent of mind. I am sure the charges are simply related to the protests he has led,” he added.
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