Tribune News Service
Mansa, June 4

BJP’s former Union Minister and National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman Vijay Sampla today faced a protest from farmers over the three agriculture laws.

Sampla was here to visit the house of Dalit youth Manpreet Singh, whose family had accused the Budhlada police of assault leading to his death, at Faffa Bhaike village. The farmers initially gheraoed the local rest house and then blocked the road by staging a dharna outside the village. On learning about Sampla’s plan to visit Faffa Bhaike village, farm unions blocked the entry points and raised slogans against the Modi government.

SHO suspended

The Budhlada police station SHO has been placed under suspension and a probe marked against other police officials over the death.

A large posse of police arrived at the scene, but Sampla could not visit the village. Later, with the efforts of the district police administration, the youth’s family was brought to the Police Lines, where they met the SC panel chairman. Sampla told the family a case had been registered against the erring police officials and the family would be given Rs 8.5 lakh in compensation and a job. He said the cost of his younger brother’s education would be borne by the government.

IGP Jaskaran Singh, DC Mahinderpal and SSP Surender Lamba were among those present at the Police Lines. Meanwhile, BJP district unit president Makhan Lal said Sampla had planned to visit the village to express his condolences to the family, but to maintain peace in the area, he met the victim’s family in Mansa.

Meanwhile, the police have registered a case against seven farm leaders and 200 unidentified protesters.