PM Modi Jalandhar rally: Farm leaders ‘detained’ ahead of PM Modi’s two rallies in Gurdaspur, Jalandhar

PTC Web Desk: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two rallies in Punjab on Friday, the police searched the houses of at least six farmers in Gurdaspur and Jalandhar and detained a few of them. Notably, PM Modi would be addressing a gathering at Gurdaspur at 3.30 pm and in Jalandhar at 5.30 pm.

On Thursday, he addressed a huge gathering in Patiala. Like yesterday, several farmer leaders today threatened that besides disrupting PM Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit, they would show him black flags.

After a tip off in Gurdaspur, the local police raided the houses of Sukhdev Singh Bhojraj, a member of the Kisan and Jawan Bhalai Morcha, Tarlok Singh and Satbir Singh Sultani of Gurdaspur unit of Kirti Kisan Union and trade union leader Makhan Kohar.  It is learnt that anticipating police action, these leaders had fled their houses. 

On the other hand, DIG (Border) Rakesh Kaushal has denied any raid. The police official claimed that they had urged farm leaders to negotiate and put off their agitation. 

A heavy police force has been deployed on a three-km stretch of the route leading from the helipad to the rally venue. Batala, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar (Rural) SSPs had been deployed at the PM’s rally venue.

It is also learnt that BKU Ekta Sidhpur Jalandhar president Kulwinder Singh Machiana was detained from his house in the morning. He was taken to the Jandiala police station. The district general secretary of the union has also been detained.