CHANDIGARH: Farmer leaders of 16 unions led by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) have been arrested in different parts of Punjab since Monday morning.
They were planning to protest in Chandigarh from August 22, against the non-payment of compensation to the flood-affected farmers. Till Sunday night, negotiations were on between senior Punjab Police officers and the leaders, which failed.
Since the wee hours of August 21, the leaders of these unions, which are not part of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, are being put under preventive arrest.
The representatives of these unions had reportedly also met Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Sunday night. He had assured them that he would ask the officers of both Punjab and Haryana to hear their grievances.
Those who met the Governor were led by SS Pandher, president of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee.
Those who have been placed under arrest on Monday are Sarvan Singh Pandher, state president, KMSC; Baldeep Singh, press secretary, BKU (Krantikari); Kanwardilip Singh, state press secretary, KMSC; Chamkaur Singh and Borh Singh, both leaders of BKU (Behramke).