The farm laws were repealed, but their fight over tractors continues

Although the Center has agreed to drop charges against all farmers involved in protests against three farm rules, four farmers who were taken by their tractors for allegedly taking part in a meeting on Republic Day have not yet received a court hearing.

The farmers removed the court after their tractors were seized by police as evidence in Nangloi on January 26.They have not been arrested in connection with the case, police said.

The city court is expected to hear the case on Saturday.

The tractors were arrested on FIR case number 46/21 at the Nangloi police station registered under the categories of violence, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit crimes and obstructing government officials from carrying out their duties.

Since September, Delhi police have opposed the plea of complainants, saying the matter is still under investigation. Police also told the court that the four men had joined the investigation on December 3 only, after being told by the court to do so one day earlier.

On December 3 - four days before the Center announced the withdrawal of all protests by the protesters - the crime department questioned the four men about their alleged role in the 2021 Republic Day riots.

Saturday is the first day of the trial after a government verdict on December 7, following which protesters marched on three border roads - Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur.

Four men - Parveen Kumar, Sandeep, Phool Kumar and Satbir Singh - who handed over the tractor ownership papers said they had left their tractors on the road while other protesters clashed with police.

Amarveer Singh Bhullar, along with another lawyer, Tejpartap Singh, representing four men, has confirmed that the case will be heard in the West Magistrate's Court on Saturday.

“Initially the police said the tractors were not in their cell. But while we were showing the notices received by one person, Parveen to intervene in the investigation into the January 26 meeting, the state said that during the dispute it would still confirm the owners of the tractors. We asked what the unit had been doing for the past nine months They could easily find owners in the vehicle registration list, ”said Bhullar.

Bhullar said it was later confirmed that the tractors had been seized by Delhi police and parked outside the Nangloi police station. Later, they were transferred to the Police Training College, in Wazirabad. “The intention was to harass farmers by delaying the removal of their tractors. Now that the government has agreed to drop all charges against farmers, we are looking forward to seeing what the prosecution will look like on December 18, ”he said.

At least 394 policemen and 10 farmers were injured during a tractor rally held by farmers on Republic Day, when protesters strayed from the pre-approved rally, clashing with police. Protesters again stormed the Red Fort, destroying an ASI-protected monument.

Parveen Kumar, one of the owners of the tractor, said, “We were following the the route we had provided for the meeting and were leaving the Tikri border that morning (January 26). When the police started removing the tear gas shells, we panicked and fled to Bahadurgarh, leaving the tractor on the road. To date the vehicles have not been released. Now that the government has confirmed that it will not continue with the cases against farmers, let's see what happens on Saturday. ”