Karnal SDM, who ordered cops to ‘break heads’ of farmers, has RSS links: Rakesh Tikait

Karnal subdivisional magistrate (SDM) Ayush Sinha, who in a video was seen instructing the cops to “smash the head” of protesting farmers on Sunday, was linked to a senior functionary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), said Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait.

“The SDM behind the Karnal lathi charge is nephew of a senior RSS functionary. The officer is the first commander of these Sarkari Taliban,” addressing a Kisan Maha Panachayat in Sirsa, Tikait added.

Tikait also demands that the officer be dismissed from service or at least suspended.

A murder case be registered against Sinha as several farmers had sustained severe injuries in the lathi charge, while one farmer Sushil Kajal died subsequently, Tikait urged authorities.

“Smash the head”

Last week, farmers, agitating against the three union farmer laws enacted last year, had decided to stage a protest outside of a hotel where the BJP leaders including Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and state president OP Dhankar, had planned an internal party meeting to discuss strategy for the upcoming panchayat polls. The Haryana police lathi-charged the farmers when they tried to move towards the meeting venue.

Officer Sinha who was posted at the check post near the meeting venue was caught on video briefing a bunch of police personnel. In the viral video clip, Sinha was heard instructing the policemen: “It is very simple and clear. Whoever he is, wherever he is from, no one should be allowed to reach there. We will not let this line be breached at any cost. Just pick up your lathi and hit them hard… It’s very clear, there is no need for any instruction, just thrash them hard. If I see a single protester here, I want to see his head smashed… crack their heads.”

Promotion, not punishment

Giving in to pressure from the Opposition and farmers’ unions for action against SDM Sinha, the Haryana Government on Wednesday issued his transfer orders.

Sinha has been posted as Additional Secretary, Citizen Resources Information Department (CRID). He was among 19 IAS officers and one HCS officer transferred on Wednesday.

However, Indian Express report says the Karnal SDM’s transfer looks like a promotion and not punishment.

Sources told the newspaper that to move Sinha out of Karnal, the saffron party-led government upgraded his rank to additional secretary.