Chandigarh: Haryana Police has registered a case against Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait and 12 others for holding a Mahapanchayat in a village in Ambala in violation of Section 144 of the CRPC. Tikait and some other BKU leaders had addressed the Kisan-Mazdoor Mahapanchayat at Dhurali village near Ambala Cantt on Saturday. The other 12 farmer leaders booked by the police include Ratan Man Singh, Baldev Singh, and Jasmer Saini.

In view of the steep rise in corona infection cases, the District Magistrate had imposed Section 144, which prohibits the gathering of four or more people. Police said assistant sub-inspector Chandi Singh had alerted BKU leaders not to hold maha panchayat due to the imposition of Section 144. A senior police officer said that however, the CPI(M) leader did not agree and held the Mahapanchayat. A case has been registered against Rakesh Tikait and 12 other farmer-leaders on the complaint of the assistant sub-inspector.

The police officer said he violated the orders under Section 144. It also violated the orders imposed by the District Magistrate under Section 188 of the IPC. Sections 269 and 270 of the IPC have also been added to the FIR. Addressing the Mahapanchayat, BKU national spokesperson Tikait had said that the agitation against the Centre's new agricultural laws will continue till these laws are repealed. He asked the farmers to be prepared for a long battle.

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