Blockade lifted after relief for family of deceased

Our Correspondent
Fazilka, November 16

Farmers have decided to lift the road blockade at the Mahmu Joiyan toll plaza as the government has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh and a job to the next of kin of farmer Baldev Raj, 60, who had died during a dharna at the toll plaza on Friday to protest the farm laws.

However the indefinite dharna on the toll plaza will continue. After the death of Baldev Raj, who reportedly suffered a heart attack, the farmers had blocked the Fazilka-Ferozepur highway resulting in inconvenience to commuters.

Gurwinder Singh, senior vice-president, BKU (Ugrahan), said Jalalabad SDM had handed over a cheque of Rs 2 lakh to the family members of the deceased farmer. He said the administration had assured to give another Rs 3 lakh at the “bhog” ceremony of Baldev Raj, the date for which is yet to be fixed and a job to the next of kin of the deceased farmer.

“We shall give another Rs 3 lakh and a contract-based job to a kin of Baldev Raj soon,” said Suba Singh, SDM, Jalalabad.

The farmer’s post-mortem examination was conducted in the district hospital here today. Doctors said he died due to cardiac arrest.