SKM CONDEMNS POLICE BRUTALITY ON FARMERS IN WEST BENGAL’S FARAKKA TO FORCEFULLY ERECT ADANI GROUP’S HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICITY POWER-LINE. 

Samyukt Kisan Morcha has condemned the Govt. of West Bengal for forcefully taking land and right-of-way from farmers, including horticulture farmers, at Farakka area of Murshidabad district of West Bengal, for Adani Group’s grid power-lines. The joint platform of farm unions which led the historic struggle against the three pro-corporate farm laws enacted by the Modi government expressed its dismay that the ruling party of West Bengal, which openly professes to be a supporter of the farmers movement, is using brute force, lathi-charge and intimidation tactics against farmers, many of whom, including women, have reportedly been seriously injured. 

In a press note, SKM criticised how the protesting farmers in Farrakka, who have been beaten up by the police reportedly under orders of “higher authorities”, have been implicated in false cases, jailed and are suffering custodial torture. SKM reminded the Chief Minister Smt. Mamata Banerjee that corporates like Adani Group are most likely the “inspiration” of the anti-farmer black laws that the Modi Govt at the Centre was forcefully trying to impose on farmers. The historic Farmers’ Protest at Delhi, which was won by sacrificing the life of more than 700 farmers and after 380 days of resolute resistance, was against this very same corporate-political nexus. 

The press note added:

SKM is disturbed to note that without any dialogue and discussion with the farmers and despite their openly expressing unwillingness to allow cutting of their very mature fruiting trees, the entire state administration, police force and local political functionaries have unleashed a reign of terror in the locality, forcing the menfolk to escape. Using this opportunity, brokers and agents of Adani Group are chopping down mango and litchi trees of the farmers. 

SKM termed as “extremely disturbing, undemocratic and unacceptable” the way a Fact Finding Team team of a constituent organisation of SKM which tried to visit the area on 3rd July to speak to the protesting farmers was physically prevented by the police from doing so; they were virtually taken under detention and were not permitted to leave their hotel. SKM said that it has the constitutional and legal right to meet farmers and stand with them in their hour of need, and any Govt trying to stop SKM from being with farmers is anti-farmer. 

SKM requests and calls upon the Chief Minister of West Bengal to direct the authorities to IMMEDIATELY: 

1) Stop the work of the Adani Group’s grid power-line erection in areas where farmers have expressed unwillingness  

2) Hold dialogue with the unwilling farmers in a fear-free, congenial atmosphere and attempt to find resolution  

3) Withdraw the false cases against all farmers and release them from police or jail custody 

4) Cooperate with a national level Fact Finding Team that SKM is sending soon to the locale