Farmers' protests: Police deny deaths at Punjab border

 Farmers' protests: Police deny deaths at Punjab border 

One protester was killed as farmers tried to continue marching in India's capital after four rounds of talks with the federal government failed to break a deadlock. The 22-year-old's death was confirmed to the BBC by Punjab's health minister and  hospital officials. Farmers' unions had previously claimed that the protesters were killed in police operations. However, Haryana Police said that "not a single farmer was killed" in the protests. Farmers demand guaranteed prices for their crops and find themselves in conflict with police who try to prevent them from reaching Delhi.  The last time they staged protests in the capital, they hid on Delhi's borders for months. Authorities are trying to prevent a recurrence by fortifying the city's borders with  layers of barricades and barbed wire. According to BBC Punjab, police fired tear gas at protesters who tried to approach the border. Farmers protected themselves from shelling with masks, gloves, and safety clothing. The death of farmer Shubh Karan Singh on the Punjab-Haryana border  is the first since protests began on February 13. His uncle told the BBC that he was from Barong village in Punjab's Bathinda district and was the family's sole breadwinner. According to Dr. Harnam Singh Rekhi, medical superintendent of Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, the cause of his death was a gunshot wound to his head. He told the BBC more details would be released after the inquest.

Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh told  that a second boy  also suffered gunshot wounds, but "fortunately he survived." He added that at least 13 people were being treated for injuries in hospitals in Punjab province. However, Haryana Police's official X account  said late Wednesday that reports of the farmer's death were "mere rumours". The protesters are also suspected of injuring 12 people by "attacking police officers with sticks and clubs and throwing stones." Farmers plan to hold a sit-in  for the next two days. They had earlier warned that heavy machinery would be used to enter Delhi. Images from the Shambhu border, where many farmers have been staying since last week, show thousands of people preparing to use bulldozers and earthmoving equipment to cross the barrier. Many of the demonstrators flew kites to prevent police from using drones to drop tear gas. Farm leaders also frequently called for unity and appealed to  security forces not to  attack their "compatriots."

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