Shubhkaran Singh, 22, died in a clash between farmers and Haryana police in February
New Delhi:
The Supreme Court refused to stay an inquest ordered by the Punjab-Haryana High Court into the death of a 22-year-old man during the farmers’ protest at the Punjab-Haryana border.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan said those who had approached the Supreme Court for an inquest had “some genuine concerns”.
“The allegations are against the Haryana Police. Let it appear before the Supreme Court on April 10,” Justice Kant said.
The Bench rejected the Haryana government’s claim that the order will affect police morale.
“Your arrest is unfounded,” the Supreme Court said.
On February 13, 22-year-old Shubhkaran Singh left his home in Baloke village in Bathinda district of Punjab to join the farmers’ march to Delhi. Eight days later, he was killed in clashes between farmers and police near the Khanauri border, which separates Punjab and Haryana.
The exact cause of Shubhkaran’s death is not yet known.
The farmers had marched towards Delhi over several demands, including a law to ensure minimum support price (MSP) for their crops, pension benefits and crop insurance. MSP is a price fixed by the government and is intended to protect farmers from distress sales of their produce.
Determined not to let the farmers go to the national capital, the Haryana police had fortified the borders with Punjab. Police fired tear gas canisters to keep the farmers at bay.
Farmers alleged that rubber bullets were also used during the clashes. For its part, police had said several police officers were injured after protesters threw stones and sticks.