After being held hostage by cane growers for over 24 hours, the Dhuri SDM, Tehsildar and other employees were released on Tuesday as the former ended their protest in Dhuri.

 

“All three dharnas in Dhuri have been lifted by cane growers after the mill management assured them of releasing Rs 10.5 crore on Wednesday and Rs 35 lakh daily. A loan of Rs 38 crore will be arranged for the payment by April 15 by mill owners,” said Ghanshyam Thori, Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur.

 

The cane growers had held three indefinite protests in Dhuri. These included the one atop the SDM office which started started on Monday, another one on the Sangrur-Dhuri road near Benra village since March 7 and the one by BKU Lakhowal with the support of various other organisations, including BKU Rajewal, Kul Hind Kisan Sabha Punjab, Kisan Mukti Morcha and the Aam Aadmi Party, in front of the Dhuri sugar mill from eight days.

“We have ended the indefinite hunger strike but we will restart it from April 3 if the mill authorities fail to release the payment,” said Anwar Bhasaur of AAP.