Kurukshetra: Farm activists and police clashed in Kurukshetra on Tuesday after talks over early govt procurement of paddy remained inconclusive.After the meeting with deputy commissioner Vishram Kumar Meena did not bear fruit, BKU (Charuni) activists marched towards NH-44, the highway that links Punjab to Delhi, around 1pm to block traffic. Police stopped them with barricades on Barara Road. When some farmers tried to break through, police used water cannons and tear-gas shells to disperse them.Some farmers managed to reach the flyover, but were later brought down by police. The confrontation lasted around half an hour, after which the protesters began a sit-in near Shaheed Udham Singh Memorial on Barara Road.Kurukshetra SP Chander Mohan reached the spot. Traffic on NH-44 continued and was not affected, DSP Randhir Singh said.BKU (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni alleged that excessive force was used against them. He alleged that a lathi-charge was also carried out. Charuni claimed that he had sustained a minor leg injury after falling while trying to evade a water cannon.BKU (Charuni) had announced the road blockade after a panchayat at Shahabad Markanda grain market on Sep 16, demanding that paddy procurement begin by Sep 20.Meena said the state govt had already sent a proposal to the Centre seeking early procurement and was awaiting its response. He said the state had also submitted information sought by the Centre on Sep 21, including a request for relaxation concerning MSP and details of procurement arrangements.Meena said the administration was prepared for procurement and had sufficient arrangements and capacity.SP Chander Mohan said police used “mild force” to prevent blocking of the national highway and appealed to farmers to resume talks. When this report was filed, farmers were still on a protest on Shahabad-Barara Road, blocking traffic there.
