On 10 Jul, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) submitted a report to the Punjab and Haryana High Court (PHHC) which says farmer Shubhkaran Singh – killed at the Khanauri border on 21 Feb 2024 – was fired upon by a shotgun. The police claim they or security forces on the Panjab-Haryana inter-state border do not possess such a weapon, which is contradicted by a recent weapons exhibition by the Rapid Action Force. The Court has ordered a review of the video footage. Jagjit Singh Dallewal, head of Samyukth Kisan Morcha (SKM) (Non-Political) said, ‘How can a shotgun be fired from the farmers’ side?’ He said plainclothes men without name plates were present and ‘anyone could have fired’ the shot. He has asked for a retired High Court judge to lead the inquiry. Panjab govt. has offered Shubhkaran’s family $120K and his sister a police job. On 17 Jul, farmer unions called for a protest at Ambala for the release of Navdeep Jalbera a.k.a. water cannon boy from the Farmers’ Protest in 2020-21. On 16 Jul, as farmers were preparing for the protest, the PHHC granted Navdeep bail and released him late evening. Meanwhile, SKM says they will resume the farmers’ protest. Between 16-18 Jul the SKM delegations will meet PM Narender Modi, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and other Parliamentarians to submit their charter of demands. Panjab CM has requested the farmer unions to end their protests, while the unions have asked him to ‘mediate and get issues resolved.’ Upon PHHC orders to remove barricades on the highway, the Haryana govt. has appealed the decision in the Supreme Court.
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