I left the last article by promising to bring to you more about the farmers’ protest. While the ‘toolkit’ gaffe and the bitter reality of the January 26 riots glare at us, we are going to talk about the less-reported bits of what actually transpires at these protest sites so consider this as a listicle. 

Protest sites turning out to be super-spreaders

A while ago it seemed as though the anti-Farm law protest is losing its steam. However, reports suggest the ‘annadaatas’ are back and this time doing more damage to the state and their families than to the Centres. The constant rigorous movements of farmers from their villages to the protest sites has resulted in a surge of new coronavirus cases in rural Punjab.

As per a ground report by Dainik Jagran, the farmers returning from the Delhi border post registering their protest against the Farm laws have turned into super-spreaders in Punjab. Reports suggest that 58% of the deaths reported in Punjab are from Rural areas.

Moreover, the families of the farmers infected with Covid-19 are deliberately avoiding Covid testing or revealing the actual reason in case of a death. The reason is vicious. It is because the government of Punjab has announced a compensation of 5 lakhs to the kin of the farmers who die because of the ongoing protest. Now if the family reports Covid as the cause of death, they will not be eligible for the compensation.

Farmer missing from the protest site

As per a Jagran report, Rajindar Kumar Raju from Jalaljan village has been missing since a month from the Singhu border protest site. He contacted his parents last on April 12 and has been missing since then.

Alleged molestation at the Tikri border

A girl from Kolkata was allegedly molested at the Farmers’ protest on the Tikri border and later succumbed to coronavirus at the hospital where she was being treated. What’s alarming is that some farmer leaders went on record to suggest that they were aware of the situation, but stated that the protest leaders are still investigating the issue on their end. 

Wishful protestor Yogendra Yadav in an interview to a news channel revealed that he was in touch with the girl when she was abducted and was being taken to an unknown site and requested the men to bring her back giving rise to questions like why was the police not informed.

Jewellery shop looted at the protest site

Three boys who appeared to be a part of the farmers’ protest made a fierce attempt to loot a jewellery shop located in the area where the alleged protests are taking place. On being caught they opened fired at the shopkeepers who gathered to thwart their attempt.

Farmer lynched after an altercation with fellow-protestor

Gurpreet who was intoxicated got into a brawl over money with another protestor from his village who was also under the influence of alcohol. The fight between the two got physical due to which Gurpreet sustained fatal injuries. Thinking of it as a regular fight, other farmers shifted Gurpreet back to his tent and did not bother to take him to a hospital. Gurpreet later succumbed to his injuries.

Farmer murdered by fellow-protestors

60 years-old Hakam Singh was found murdered at a spot close to the protesting site. His mortal remains were recovered from a farm. Hakam Singh had gone for a walk with two fellow-protestors as seen in the CCTV footage. However, the two who had accompanied him were seen returning without Hakam Singh from the same road after a while.

Refusal to take vaccines and wear masks

Farmers from Bahadurgarh village of Haryana have refused to take vaccines or wear masks. The government had set-up vaccination camps twice, but there were no takers.

Farmers at protest sites fall prey to the Covid-19 virus

With nearly 15000 farmers protesting at the Delhi borders, cases of deaths due to the coronavirus have begun to emerge. At least three fatalities have been reported from the protesting site causing worry to the farmer leaders who now have begun to split over the continuation of the protest.

Manufacturing vaccine hesitancy

Farmers are being deterred from taking the vaccine by so-called leaders by manufacturing vaccine hesitancy. Farmers are calling the vaccine as ‘Modi vaccine’ and have refused to take it while chanting ‘Mar Ja Modi’ slogans. Ironic as the very same farmer leaders have got themselves inoculated and claim that they have invited the government to open vaccination camps at the site. 

Advocating Hinduphobia

In a video that has gone viral on social media, a woman leader can be heard shaming and mocking Hindu gods and practices from a stage that apparently has been set for the ‘farmers’ protest. Makes one wonder what has religion got to do with the three Farm Bills.

The list goes on….It is unfortunate that at a time when the nation is grappling with the raging second wave of the pandemic, Politicians and Andolanjeevis look at his as an opportunity to revive their careers. As the citizens of Delhi ran on the roads haplessly looking to get their loved ones admitted, the protestors chose to continue with their protest, occupy roads and add to the misery.

But do you know how farmers have their fingers soaked in ‘ghee’.

Wait for the next piece to know why these protests are morally wrong and the steps taken by the government to empower the farmers.