In a rare incident, a farmer in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district, who was demanding euthanasia, was fined Rs 9.91 lakh by the police who came to stop him.
The matter dates back to December 10 when farmer Vidhyadhar Yadav and his family sat on a funeral pyre, demanding euthanasia. Their protest stemmed from a dispute over compensation for their land, allegedly owed by Shree Cement Company. To prevent the family from committing self-immolation, an extensive police deployment was arranged, incurring significant costs.
Citing an order from the Rajasthan government, Jhunjhunu SP Sharad Chowdhary issued the notice to Yadav. According to the notice, the protest required the deployment of 99 police personnel, including an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), and two Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSPs), along with the use of official vehicles. This placed an additional financial burden on the state treasury.
The notice demands that the farmer deposit Rs 9,91,577 in the accounts branch of the SP office by December 24. If the amount is not paid, legal action will be taken as per rules.
Notably, this is the first time Rajasthan Police has issued such a notice in a case related to preventing euthanasia or self-immolation. The farmer’s protest had earlier prompted the cement company to agree to pay Rs 3 crore as compensation. However, the notice has left Vidhyadhar Yadav and his family in shock.
SP Chowdhary said that the notice has been issued as per regulations. He added that the farmer was given seven days to comply, and action will follow if the amount is not deposited.
