Villagers, police clash ahead of Haryana CM’s I-Day event; video shows cops throwing stones

On the eve of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini's Independence Day event in Hansi, clashes erupted between protesters and police over the delay in arresting the main suspect in the murder of dairy operator Jeevan. Villagers reached the town to demand Jeevan's killer be apprehended before the event, which was scheduled to coincide with the Independence Day function where Saini was to hoist the Tricolour.

The confrontation saw several villagers injured in a police lathicharge, while Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar and a Deputy Superintendent of Police sustained minor injuries in stone-pelting. The video footage showed Kumar and some policemen throwing stones towards the protesters, who in turn were demanding arrest of the main accused.

The police registered an FIR against nearly 200 individuals, including women and farmer leaders, following the incident. Opposition leaders expressed strong criticism of the police's lathi-charge on the protesting villagers, with Congress MPs Kumari Selja and Deepender Singh Hooda condemning the actions. The anger over Jeevan's murder has been growing in Hisar district, with Opposition MLAs and senior farmer leader Rakesh Tikait joining protesters who refused to cremate Jeevan's body until all the accused were arrested.

Hisar's SP Siddhant Jain stated that 10 police teams were formed to arrest the remaining wanted accused, and LOCs have been issued to prevent the absconding accused from fleeing the country.