Surat Police Arrest Farmer Leaders, Seal Khedut Samaj Office

Surat: A storm of controversy has engulfed the city as the Surat police faced allegations of bowing to political pressures after they detained prominent farmer leaders and sealed the office premises of the Khedut Samaj Gujarat (KSG).

The incident occurred at the Purshottam Ginning mill compound in Jahangirpur, where tensions have escalated between the KSG and the Purshottam Farmers Cooperative Ginning and Processing Society Limited.

The Khedut Samaj Gujarat (KSG) had recently filed a civil suit in the Surat district and sessions court against the Purshottam Farmers Cooperative Society, accusing them of breaching a 51-year rent agreement that permitted the KSG to occupy the office space. Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, the police, purportedly acting under the influence of political figures, took the controversial step of detaining farmer leaders and sealing the KSG office.

Among those detained were KSG President Jayesh Patel, Surat President Ramesh Patel, co-operative leader Darshan Naik, and several other farmers. The situation has ignited a wave of criticism against the police force, with allegations that they are merely serving as pawns in the hands of influential political leaders.

Jayesh Patel, expressing his dismay, stated, “The police’s actions are reflective of their subservience to political leaders. By sealing the KSG office premises before the court has reached a verdict, they have demonstrated a lack of respect for the judicial process. The case is still pending in court and remains sub-judice. Yet, the police have unlawfully entered our premises and sealed our property.”

Darshan Naik, a cooperative leader, further criticized the police’s swift reaction to please their political superiors. “Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, our Surat police appear to have acted rashly under political pressures. Such conduct is deplorable, and we intend to apprise the Surat court of the entire incident and the police’s role in it,” he remarked.

KSG is spearheading the ongoing protests by the farmers of Olpad taluka raising objections to a central government notification regarding the laying of a new railway track from Hazira to Gothan.  Acting collectively under the umbrella of a farmers’ society, these individuals lodged personal objections at the office of Deputy Collector. However, despite the objections, no official action has been taken. The controversy deepened when news of potential land acquisition spread through newspapers, leading to further discontent among the farmers.