On 11th October a kisan leader of Mansa, Punjab, was murdered and two other were injured when an armed gang led by a money lender and revenue officer opened fire at them. The incident happened at village Biroke that falls under tehsil Budhlada of Mansa district. Pirthi Singh, aged 38 who lost his life was an active leader of Bharti Kisan Union (Dakonda group) and was a resident of village Chak Alisher. He was also the older brother of our party comrade Lakhwinder Lakhi who himself is the district leader of All India Kisan Mahasabha.

The incident happened when some revenue officials went to village Biroke for attaching the 10 canal land of a farmer Bhola Singhwho was in debt to a moneylender. Farmers gathered in protest and sensing the mood the revenue officials left the scene. When farmers relaxed their vigil and only a few protestors and leaders remained, the money lender, his associates, and armed goons with revenue officer (tehsildar) Subhash Singh reached the site again and opened fire killing Pirthi Singh and injuring two others.

Various farmer organizations have joined hands to fight for justice and farmer rights. It has been reported that the gang involved in this incident is close to the ruling Akali Dal and is patronized by ex-MLA of Mansa, Sukhwinder Singh Aulakh. CPI(ML) has spearheaded the struggle for justice – including punishment for the culprits, compensation for the slain leader’s family, ban on private money-lending and compulsory registration for financial business, and withdrawal of all court cases regarding the debt of farmers to moneylenders.