In a repeat of protests in 2004, the latest agitation by farmers in Sriganganagar to demand their share of water from the Indira Gandhi Canal ends in violent clashes with the local police. Despite this, the Rajasthan government has not held a dialogue with farmers on the issue

Farmers demanding irrigation water for their crops clashed with police in Ghadsana, in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district on October 16, leaving about 40 people, including six policemen, injured. Curfew has been imposed in two towns in the area and the army was called in to help restore order.

Farmers in Sriganganagar who have been demanding their full share of 58% of the water water from the Indira Gandhi Canal for years have been on their latest agitation since last week. They were also demanding the release of six of their leaders who were arrested on October 9.

Their campaign turned violent after angry farmers in Ghadsana, around 500 km from the state capital Jaipur, attacked police officials. The protestors reportedly stoned the police and damaged vehicles. "We had to use batons to control the mob besides water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets. But nothing stopped the farmers," said Navdeep Singh, inspector general of police.

However, local people relate a version of events that demonstrates police brutality."We were pulled out of our houses and beaten by the police. Even though we were not a part of the protest we were still beaten," said a farmer. "My leg is broken and I have been injured on my head and shoulder," he added.

"We have imposed curfew in Ghadsana and Ravala towns from six am. The army was called in to Ghadsana on Monday night to control the situation", Singh said on October 17. It is the second time in a week that the town of Ghadsana town has been placed under curfew.

However, even after the violent clashes, the Rajasthan government is yet to initiate even a dialogue with farmers' groups. The government has also refused to release any of the arrested leaders.

Water has been a contentious issue with farmers in the district who have been opposing the division of the canal water with farmers further downstream in Jaisalmer and Bikaner districts. Till the canal was extended, farmers of the first phase in Ganganagar and Hanumangarh were the main beneficiaries of the water that came in from the Pong dam. But this year the Rajasthan government has been forced to reduce their water because a poor monsoon in Punjab has lowered the amount of water in the Indira Gandhi Canal.

This is not the first instance of violent clashes in Sriganganagar over the issue. Two years ago, clashes between farmers and the police in the district led to a police firing which resulted in the deaths of eight farmers.

After that incident, the state government reached an accord with the farmers, under which they promised to provide sufficient water. But the farmers claim the government has not stuck to the agreement, which has forced them to restart their agitation campaign.

Now, the protesting farmers say their resolve has hardened further. "The government had assured us that it would provide farmers in Phase I with 58 % of water. But it is not fulfilling its promise. We will continue our protest till our demand is met, " says Ravindra Singh, a local farmer.

Source: www.ndtv.com, October 17, 2006
www.bbcnews.com, October 17, 2006
IANS, October 17, 2006
www.ndtv.com, October 16, 2006