Kurukshetra (Balwinder Singh): A protest demanding timely paddy procurement turned volatile on Wednesday when Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Gurnam Singh Charuni allegedly slapped a senior food and civil supplies department official in full public view. The incident led to Charuni’s swift detention by local police.
The confrontation occurred outside the Kurukshetra Deputy Commissioner’s office, where a large gathering of farmers had assembled to protest against delays in lifting their harvested paddy crop. Tensions had been rising throughout the day, but matters escalated dramatically when Charuni, who had been addressing the crowd from atop a tractor trolley, climbed down and confronted Rajesh Arya, the District Food Controller (DFC).
In a sudden and unexpected move, Charuni is said to have slapped Arya during a brief verbal exchange. The officer was surrounded by security personnel at the time. Chaos immediately erupted among the protesters and officials, prompting a heavy police presence to intervene.
Law enforcement officers detained Charuni on the spot, while additional forces were deployed around the protest site to prevent further escalation. In the aftermath, police also detained more than two dozen protesting farmers and transported them away from the location, though their whereabouts have not yet been disclosed.
Officials confirmed that the situation is currently under control, with security personnel monitoring the area closely. Authorities are assessing whether further legal action will be taken against Charuni or others involved in the incident.
The BKU has not issued an official statement on the episode yet, but farmer groups have long accused the administration of dragging its feet on procurement and causing distress among cultivators. Wednesday’s altercation highlights the mounting frustration among farmers as the procurement season lags behind schedule.
Meanwhile, administrative officials have condemned the incident, calling it an attack on a public servant performing official duties.
With emotions running high and the standoff between the administration and farmer bodies intensifying, the situation in Kurukshetra remains tense.
