In the ongoing farmers protest, nearly 100 protesting farmers have been hospitalised with series injuries while three farmers have lost their eyesight from pellet injuries, mutliple reports have said.
The three farmers, who were hit by pellets during the agitation, have lost their eyesight due to the injuries, a report in The Indian Express said.
The incident occured as Haryana Police fired fired teargas shells and rubber bullets on the Punjab-Haryana border to prevent the farmers from marching towards Delhi.
Meanwhile, 100 protesting farmers were hospitalised with serious injuries including amputations, fractures and head injuries while clashing with the Haryana Police on the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, Hindustan Times quoted government officials as saying.
Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, while speaking on the issue, reportedly said, “At least three farmers have lost their eyes. One of them is at GMCH 32, Chandigarh, and two of them have been admitted to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. We have got them checked and their eyes cannot be saved. The Haryana Police not only used water cannons and tear gas shells, but also bullets and pellet guns.”
A senior ophthalmologist based in Patiala, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “Farmers who have sustained corneal injuries due to bullet pellets may permanently lose their eyesight. Two farmers were admitted with serious ocular injuries after pellets perforated the cornea.”
Meanwhile, a total of 250 farmers have been injured on the Punjab-Haryana border so far. The injuries come as farmers, mainly from Punjab, clashed with the Haryana Police at two border points between the states on Tuesday, facing tear gas and water cannons as they tried to break the barricades blocking their march to the national capital.
Besides a legal guarantee on MSP, the farmers are demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pension for farmers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and justice for the victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence among others.
A third round of meeting was held between three Union ministers and leaders of protesting farmer unions on Thursday with Union Minister Arjun Munda asserting that the discussion was positive.”
So far, the talks between the farmers and the government have remained inconclusive. The talks will continue and another meeting will take place at 6 pm on Sunday, he said, adding that a solution will be found by sitting together.