Farmers hold government officials including Tehsildar hostage in Punjab; Police tactically freed them without using force

CHANDIGARH: Farmers in Punjab have held 12 government employees hostage, demanding compensation for crop damage. Hundreds of farmers under the banner of a local farmers' organization held employees hostage demanding compensation for damage caused to them by the unexpected setback in cotton cultivation due to pest infestation. Officials, including the tehsildar, were held hostage.

They were released by the police. Senior police officials who arrived at the spot said that the police did not have to use force and the officials were released after diplomatically infoming the farmers. However, the farmers' leader told the media that the police had used force against the farmers and that about six farmers had been injured.

The incident has created a new havoc for the newly-elected AAP government in Punjab. The AAP government has already realized that governance in Punjab will not be as easy as in New Delhi as Punjab gives importance for farmers.