AMRITSAR: The memories of birth centenary celebrations of Bhagat Singh will not be easily erased from the minds of around three hundred farmers, including ladies and children, who had arrived here on Thursday to pay tribute to the martyr.

While chief minister Parkash Singh Badal was laying floral wreaths at the flame of liberty, police were lathicharging these farmers. Around eight of them were injured.

They were not even allowed to cross the locked gate of Jallianwala Bagh. But the police’s version is an altogether different tale; according to police, farmers had arrived with an intention to disturb the programme and had broken several barriers, and even tried to run over SDM I and SP.

SP city, Kastaubh Sharma said the farmers were going to Jallianwala Bagh to disturb the programme and were carrying batons etc. He said police tried stopping them, but they dismantled the nakas at Bhandari Bridge and Hall Gate.
"At Sheran Wala Gate they tried to run over SDM Paramjit Singh and me," said Kastaubh. He claimed that farmers also pelted stones at policemen, following which couple of them, including lady constables, were injured. "Later, police had to resort to mild lathicharge to maintain law and order situation," he said.

Irked with police action, farmers staged a dharna in front of the gate of Jallianwala Bagh, forcing police to take out the chief minister from another gate. Tarsem Singh, a farmer soaked in blood, said, "The government reminded us of the gory incident of 1919."

"Five to six policemen pulled me out of a vehicle and gave me a thrashing," he said. He cleared that they had gathered here to pay homage and had no other intentions.

Gurlal Singh, leader of Kisan Sangarash Committee, said police not only stopped them at various nakas but also lathicharged when they were sitting peacefully in front of the Jallianwala Bagh. Gurlal squarely blamed police for the excesses.

Meanwhile, Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu, convener Kisan Sangharsh Committee, condemned the incident and demanded arrest of the policemen responsible for lathicharge.

Police have made elaborate security arrangements in the city in wake of arrival of home minister Shivraj Patil,
tourism and cultural affairs minister Ambika Soni and chief ministers of Haryana and Uttrakhand for the national level birth centenary celebrations on September 28.