UP: FIR Against Over 200 Farmers For 'Ruckus' on Rail Tracks Before SKM’s March 14 Mahapanchayat

Lucknow: Farmers in Western Uttar Pradesh staged a roadblock, expressing their anger over the First Information Report (FIR) against about 200 farmers by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) in the state. The booked farmers

were heading toward Delhi in a train to participate in the Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat at Ram Lila Ground, convened by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on March 14.

The protesters raised slogans against the Union government, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing them of suppressing the voice of farmers by registering the FIR against them. 

The case has been registered under Sections 153 (giving a provocative speech with intent to cause riot) of the Indian Penal Code and 174 (obstructing running of train) of the Railways Act at RPF post in Ghaziabad Cantonment railway station.

Background 

Thousands of farmers and workers gathered in Delhi’s Ramlila Ground called by farmers’ collective SKM, which had spearheaded a year-long protest at Delhi's borders in 2020-21 against three agriculture laws that the government was forced to withdraw.

The farmers’ organisations gathered in Delhi to protest against the Modi government’s failure to fulfil its assurance of “doubling farmers’ income”, giving legal guarantee for minimum support price (MCP), implementing the Swaminathan Commission’s formula, one-time debt waiver among other things.

On March 13, farmers in large numbers, mostly affiliated with Bhartiya Kisan Union (Tikait) and other organisations, including All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and Khet Mazdoor Union, from across the state took trains and buses to join the 'Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat' in Delhi.

In one incident, farmers from Moradabad en route to Delhi were stopped by the railway police. At around 1 a.m on March 13, the loco pilot suddenly stopped a train at Mussoorie station in Ghaziabad. The farmers were told that orders had come from a 'higher authority' that the train would not go further. After this, the farmers squatted on the rail tracks in protest. As a result, rail traffic was affected for about three hours. However, the train was extended to Delhi after a discussion with the Railway Board. 

Kuldeep Balyan, Mussoorie outpost in-charge of RPF, told the media that a case has been registered in this case against around 200 farmers and passengers under Section 153, Section 174C of the Railway Act, and an investigation has been started.

Rakesh Tikait of BKU (Tikait) speaking to NewsClick said: "The government is afraid of farmers' unity and is trying to suppress their voice by using police and FIRs."

The SKM on March 17 had condemned the stopping of farmers at various places. Around 400 farmers from Karnataka were detained at Nizamuddin railway station in Delhi at 11 a.m on March 14. These farmers were forced to spend the night on the road. Similarly, Delhi Police detained five farmer leaders of All India Krishak Khet Majdoor Sangathan (AIKKMS) and 55 farmers of Punjab. UP Police also kept farmers under house arrest in many districts, including Sambhal and Deoria. At many stations, including Ghaziabad and Bahadurgarh, farmers were forced to sit on the tracks to put pressure on the Railways to take the trains to Delhi, a statement issued by SKM read.