Situation tense in Karnal after video of DM allegedly telling cops to break farmers' heads emerges

At least 10 farmers were injured in police lathi-charge when they tried to disrupt traffic on National Highway number 44 and enter Karnal town from Bastara toll plaza.

A shocking video has emerged of Karnal District Magistrate Ayush Sinha in which he is allegedly heard telling policemen at a checkpoint to not refrain from wielding their canes upon farmers and hit them on the head if needed.

At least 10 farmers were injured in police lathi-charge when they tried to disrupt traffic on National Highway number 44 and enter Karnal town from Bastara toll plaza.

The farmers were assaulted when they attempted to disrupt a state-level BJP meeting in protest against the Centre's farm laws.

Highways across Haryana were blocked after the incident.

The unverified video doing the rounds on social media shows the DM explicitly telling the policemen that the protesting farmers should not cross the checkpoint under any circumstance and if required break their heads with canes.

The DM is allegedly heard saying, "Mere paas ek bhi banda nikal ke nahi nana chahiye. Agar aaye toh sar foota hua hona chahiye uska. Clear hai aapko? (Not a single protester should be able to reach me and even if someone manages, his head should be broken. Is it clear?)"

The Congress party has latched on to the video and alleged that the BJP-JJP alliance government in the state had crossed all levels of brutality. Other political parties too condemned the lathi charge.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body under which many farmer groups have been protesting, slammed the Haryana police brutality and called for a blockade of all toll plazas in the state till 5 pm.