Ambala Farmers Block MLA’sHouse With Stray Cattle to Protest Menace

Farmers under the banner of the BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) with stray animals in their tractor-trailersprotested outside the residence of Ambala City MLA Aseem Goel on Tuesday against the stray cattle menace.

With more than 200 stray cattle in around 30 tractor-trailers, farmers from across the Ambala district took out a protest march from the city grain market and raised anti-government slogans, The Tribune reported.

Ambala City SDM Darshan Kumar and the police tried to pacify the farmers at the grain market unsuccessfully. Subsequently, the police tried to stop them at the gate of the grain market and then near the MLA’s house. The farmers, who had heated arguments with the police, broke the barricades.

The farmers blocked the main road outside Goel’s house and refused to end the protest unless the stray cattle menace is curbed. Stray cattle damage crops and often cause road accidents leading to deaths.

“Stray cattle not only damage crops, they also often causefatal mishaps. Despite repeated requests, the administration and the government have failed to check this menace,” said BKU (SBS) spokesman Tejveer Singh.

BKU (SBS) chief Amarjeet Mohri said, “The farmers are struggling to protect their crops. A similar protest was held earlier this year and we were assured that the matter would be resolved, but nothing has happened so far.”

Demanding that the government take responsibility for damage caused by stray cattle, Mohri said, “It should compensate the victims and the farmers for the fuel expenses borne by them in bringing cattle to Ambala City from across the district. We will continue the protest till our demands are met.”

Ambala deputy commissioner Shaleen said, “There are 11 nandishalas in the district and they are ready to accept these stray animals. But the farmers have been raising some other demands as well. A team of officers is working on this issue and we are likely to see a resolution soon.”