‘Does it not stir PM Modi’s heart?’ 15 protestors, including two women, have lost their life since November 26

Even as the farmers’ agitation against the three contentious farm laws gained momentum and entered day 15, it has come to the fore that at least 15 farmers have died since November 26 due to various reasons while protesting against the laws.

The latest in the list of casualties is a 32-year-old farmer, Ajay More who was found dead on Tuesday morning near Delhi-Haryana border where protesters have been camping for around two weeks. More, a native of Haryana’s Sonipat, died due to hypothermia, said Chief Medical Officer, Sonipat.

According to data collected from various sources, while four farmers have died in road accidents, 10 have died due to heart attack and one has died due to the severe cold.

The first casualty, according to local media reports, happened on November 24 when a large group of farmers was covering tractor-trailers with waterproof sheets in Mehalkalan town of Barnala district. Kahan Singh, a BKU (Dakaunda) activist from Dhaner village, was hit by a car and he died on the spot. Later, BKU declared him “the first martyr of the Delhi morcha”.

Farmers’ organizations have claimed that so far, two women protesters have also died due to cardiac arrest. Gurmail Kaur of Chand Patti village died due to a heart attack while participating in a protest at a toll barrier in Sangrur district. Similarly, Rajinder Kaur of Gangohar village died at the Mehal Kalan toll barrier due to a heart attack.

Despite the untimely deaths and casualties, the Modi government has not shown any concern. Senior Congress leader Randeep Surjelwala attacked PM Modi, asking, “Does it not stir PM Modi’s heart?”

A large number of protesters also sustained serious injuries while marching to Delhi. A photograph of Mahinder Kaur – hailing from Sangrur district - had gone viral after she suffered a leg fracture in an accident, but refused to return home.

Meanwhile, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has announced financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to the families of farmers who died while protesting against the farm laws. Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the families of two such farmers, hailing from Mansa and Moga districts.

A list of 15 farmers who died during the agitation is given below:

· Kahan Singh (Dhaner, Barnala) died on November 24

· Dhanna Singh (Chehlanwali) died on November 27

· Gajjan Singh (Bhangu Khatra) died on November 28

· Janak Raj (Dhanaula, Barnala) died on November 29

· Gurdev Singh (Attar Singhwala) died on November 30

· Gurjant Singh (Bachhoana, Mansa) died on December 2

· Gurbachan Singh Sibia (Bhinderkhurd, Moga), Baljinder Singh (Jhamat, Ludhiana) died on December 3

· Lakhvir Singh (Laleana, Bathinda) died on December 4

· Karnail Singh (Sherpur, Sangrur), Rajinder Kaur (Gangohar, Barnala) died on December 7

· Gurmail Kaur (Gharachon, Bathinda), Mewa Singh (Khote, Faridkot), Ajay Kumar (Sonepat), and Lakhvir Singh (Jharon, Sangrur) died on December 8