A local court in Hisar delivered a significant verdict on Monday, acquitting two members of a farmers' organization in a case stemming from a 2017 road blockade. The court also declared two other accused as proclaimed offenders for consistently failing to appear before it despite repeated legal notices.
Flaws in Police Investigation Lead to Acquittal
Defence lawyer Naveen Rajli explained the grounds for the acquittal. He stated that the investigating officer could not correctly identify the accused during the trial. Compounding the prosecution's weak case, one of the police witnesses turned hostile. These critical failures in the investigation led to the acquittal of the two men: Krishna from Rajli village and Dharambir from Gurana village.
Details of the 2017 Blockade Case
The legal proceedings were connected to an incident dated June 21, 2017. On that day, the Barwala police station registered a First Information Report (FIR) against members of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti. The named accused included Pradeep Pradhan, Krishna, Randhir, and Bhira, along with 35 to 40 unidentified persons.
The case was filed under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly blocking the main road near the Rajli village bus stand. In the recent court order, Pradeep Pradhan of Mirchpur village and Randhir of Milkpur village were declared proclaimed offenders for their continued absence from the judicial process.
Separate Tragedy: BKU Leader Dies in Accidental Shooting
In an unrelated but tragic incident in the region, a local farmer leader died from a gunshot wound. Iqbal Singh Pathrala, who served as the Sangat block president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakaunda), passed away at his home on Sunday night.
The incident occurred in Pathrala village, located near the Punjab border. According to his wife's statement, Iqbal Singh was cleaning his licensed gun when the weapon accidentally discharged, resulting in fatal injuries.
The deceased leader is survived by his wife and three daughters. Reports indicate that two of his daughters are married, while the youngest is currently a student in Class VIII.
These two separate events highlight ongoing issues related to farmer activism and personal safety in the region, underscoring the complex socio-legal landscape in rural Haryana.
