Earlier, in Haryana, Khattar had to back down after the police launched a brutal lathicharge on protestors at a toll plaza near Karnal. A farmer died after injuries suffered in the attack. Before that, the sub-divisional magistrate Ayush Sinha had called upon the police force to “break the heads of farmers who tried to breach the cordon”.After this shocking incident, the farmers under the leadership of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha laid siege to the mini-secretariat at Karnal. After four days, the administration backed down and accepted the major demands which included a judicial enquiry, compensation and a job for the family of the deceased farmer and Sinha was sent on leave.After the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, thousands of farmers collected at the spot and the Uttar Pradesh administration was compelled to accept some of the key demands after negotiations with the kisan leaders. These include filing of an FIR on murder charges naming the son of the minister; the administration asked for seven days’ time to act on the FIR; Rs 45 lakh compensation for the families of those who died and Rs 10 lakh for those injured. The government also announced an enquiry by a retired High Court judge. It remains to be seen if the police will conduct an impartial investigation.Every time the State machinery sought to use the police or other methods to suppress the movement, the farmers have fought back. This has been the pattern ever since the January 26 incidents in Delhi and around.The Adityanath regime is notorious for its heavy-handed repression and police excesses. All the leaders of opposition parties who tried to reach Lakhimpur Kheri the next day were stopped or detained. In many places in the state, peaceful protests against the incident have not been allowed.
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