Lakha Sidhana, wanted for Republic Day violence, spotted at farmers’ rally in Bhatinda

Gangster-turned-activist Lakhbir Singh Sidhana alias Lakha Sidhana, who is accused by the Delhi Police of instigating violence in farmers’ tractor rally on Republic Day and was absconding, was spotted at a farmers’ rally organised by farmers in Bhatinda on Tuesday. The Delhi Police has announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for any information leading to Sidhana’s arrest. 

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha is celebrating the Pagdi Sambhal Diwas on Tuesday as a group of farmers are holding a rally in support of farmers’ protest against the Centre’s farm laws in Bhatinda’s Mehraj, reports The Indian Express.  Mehraj is the ancestral village of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

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A video clip showed Sidhana, who had given a call for the public meeting in Mehraj last week, seated on the dais. However, it was earlier unclear whether Sidhana would attend the rally on Tuesday as he is wanted by the Delhi Police. 

Sidhana is accused of instigating violence, which broke out during the January 26 tractor rally organised by the protesting farmers.

Thousands of protesters had clashed with the police during the violence that broke out in Republic Day tractor rally. Many of the protesters reached the Red Fort and entered the monument, and some of them even hoisted religious flags on its domes and a flagstaff at the ramparts.

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In a video that appeared on social media on Saturday, Sidhana had appealed to people to take part in the programme in large numbers, reports PTI.

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The former gangster had several cases registered against him in Punjab and was jailed many times. He had unsuccessfully contested the 2012 state assembly polls.