(*Note: The headline of the story was updated to reflect the cause of injury.)
As the stalemate between the central government and farmers protesting protesting over Minimum Support Price (MSP) guarantee law continues, Shubhkaran Singh, a 21-year-old protester died at the Khanauri Border on Wednesday, 21 February allegedly due to a head injury.
"He was already dead when he was brought to the hospital at around 3 pm. He suffered bullet injuries in his head," Harnam Singh, Medical Superintendent at the Government Medical College and Rajendra Hospital in Patiala, alleged to The Quint.
"We would know more details about the injury and the nature of the bullet only after the post-mortem," he added.
The Haryana Police, however, in a tweet denied having any information regarding the death. "According to the information received so far, no farmer has died today at the Farmers' Protest. This is just a rumour. There is information about two policemen and one protestor being injured at the Khanauri border who are undergoing treatment," the police said.
In another tweet, the Haryana Police claimed, that protesting farmers sprayed chilli power in the stubble and set it on fire. "At least 12 police personnel were injured in the process," the tweet said.
A resident of Bathinda's Baloh village, Shubhkaran allegedly suffered a head injury amid an intense face-off between the Haryana Police and the protesting farmers on Wednesday.
Vice President of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Malwa) Gurwinder Singh Baloh confirmed the incident. "Shubhkaran Singh, who was a resident of my village Baloh has died at the Shambhu Border after he was injured in firing by the Police. We are with his family in this moment of grief," he said.
Farmer leader Baldev Singh Sirsa, while speaking to reporters, also alleged that Shubhkaran was shot in the head.
Earlier, a 79-year-old farmer had died of heart attack at the Shambhu Border on 16 February. Deaths of two police personnel have also been reported during the ongoing protests.
Farmers' leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced that in the wake of Shubhkaran's death, the protests will be suspended for two days. "The sit-in will continue, but we won't move ahead with the plan to march to Delhi till Friday," he said.
'Extremely Tragic': Politicians and Parties React to Shubhkaran's Death
Several politicians across Punjab and Haryana reacted to Shubhkaran's death. Sukhbir Badal, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), questioned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), "Extremely tragic. The death of Maur (Bathinda) boy Shubhkaran Singh in Haryana police firing at Khanauri border has sent a pall of gloom in Punjab. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's conspiratorial double game is responsible for the loss of this young life, the only brother of two sisters. The police of another state are allowed to assault and kill Punjabis on Punjab soil, with Bhagwant Mann collaborating with Haryana against Punjab farmers. Peaceful protest being met with bullets unheard of in a democracy. The innocent blood of Shubhkaran Singh is on Bhagwant Mann’s hands."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to X to express condolences to the family of the victim. "The news of death of young farmer Shubhakaran Singh in firing on Khanauri border is heartbreaking, my condolences are with his family," he said.
Gandhi also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the incident.
"Last time Modi's arrogance was accepted only after the sacrifice of more than 700 farmers, now it has again become the enemy of their lives. One day history will definitely demand an account of the 'killing of farmers' from the BJP hiding behind the friendly media," the tweet read.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that strict action will be taken against the responsible persons.
"We express our heartfelt condolences to the family of Shubhakaran in this hour of sorrow. We assure to help the family in all aspects economically and socially. After the post-mortem, appropriate action will be taken against the responsible officials," he said.
Official X handles of Punjab Congress also shared the news of the farmer's death.
Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Brar said, "At the Khanuri border the Narendra Modi government machinery has taken the life of 21-year-old Shubhakram Singh. The government is so alarmed by the farmers' struggle that bullets are being used to stop the farmers."
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