Old farm labourer dies at peasants' protest site

Bathinda: A landless farm labourer, Ralla Singh, 72, of Dodra village in Mansa died on Friday. He was among the protesting farmers camping outside the Bathinda deputy commissioner's office for the past 25 days seeking waiver of outstanding loans.
Angry over Ralla's death, farmers demanded Rs 10 lakh compensation for his family, a government job to one of his kin and waiver of any outstanding debt against him.
They also announced not to cremate the body till their demands were met. The exact cause of his death could not be known as farmers declined to get the autopsy done till the government acceded to their demands.
"Ralla was at the protest site since May 31 and was in good health when he went to sleep on Thursday night. At around 4 in the morning, fellow protesters found him dead. His body was taken to the civil hospital," said farmer organization BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) Bathinda unit chief Shingara Singh. tnn
BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri said the farmers were fighting for debt waiver and a survey to identify farm suicides after 2010. "We were determined to continue our protest. Death of Ralla Singh has further cemented our resolve to carry on with the agitation till the state government accepts our demands."
Ralla's wife Murti Kaur and sons Darshan Singh and Lakha Singh said they fully support BKU (Ekta Ugrahan). "We will accept whatever decision the union takes. We won't cremate his body till our demands are accepted."
Commenting on the labourer's death, Bathinda additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Parampal Kaur Sidhu said, "The district administration is taking up the matter of compensation with the state government. Demands of farmers have also been conveyed to the government."