Punjab sets up Helpline and lawyers’ panel for 100 missing in Delhi since Republic Day

A day after Samyukta Kisan Morcha claimed that over 100 persons from Punjab have been missing since after the Red Fort violence in Delhi, the Punjab government on Monday announced a Helpline number besides appointing lawyers to provide free legal aid to the farmers facing criminal cases in the national capital.

The Delhi Police on Monday published a list of 120 people who have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the Republic Day violence that broke out during the tractor rally organised by the farmers against the controversial agriculture laws.

Several groups of protesters broke a pre-decided route for the rally, clashed with the police, mobs also breached the walls of the Red Fort on Republic Day and hoisted the 'Nishan Sahib'---a symbol sacred to Sikhism---on a flagpole at the Red Fort, the police report says.

Expressing his concern at more than 100 persons from his state, reportedly missing in Delhi-Haryana region since the Republic Day Tractor Rally,  Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh today announced Helpline number (112) to report all such instances, even as 70 lawyers were appointed by the state Advocate General (AG) on his directives to provide free legal aid to farmers facing cases in the Delhi
Assuring all possible help by his government in tracing the missing persons, the Chief Minister said his cabinet colleagues had met the Union Home Minister on the issue and he would personally take up the cases of such missing persons/farmers with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

“Our hearts are with those fighting for their rights at the Delhi borders,” said the Chief Minister, appealing to the people of Punjab to immediately dial 112 to report any case of a person missing during the Tractor Rally, even if no cases had been filed with respect to such persons so far.

“We will do everything possible to locate those who are missing. We are trying to get details and will ensure that they return to their homes,” said the Chief Minister, during a virtual event, attended by Sarpanches of various villages, who expressed concern over the issue.

Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar urged the Chief Minister to help out the farmers facing legal cases in the national capital, in response to which the latter said he had already directed AG Atul Nanda to arrange for legal aid. Nanda later disclosed that he had arranged for as many as 70 lawyers to extend all help to the farmers against whom cases had been filed by the Delhi Police in the wake of the Republic Day violence. It is learnt that the Delhi Police has arrested around 89 persons, hailing from UP, Haryana and Punjab, and registered 38 FIRs in connection with the violence.

On Saturday, the Khalra Mission and the Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO) had also announced free legal aid to the farmers booked by the Delhi Police for their alleged involvement in the Red Fort violence during the  Republic Day Tractor Rally in Delhi. The PHRO had claimed that more than 100 farmers from Punjab had gone missing since after the Red Fort violence. It said that 12 farmers from Tatariewala village of Moga were reported missing on January 26.