NEW DELHI, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- The farmers protesting outside the main government office in the northern Indian state of Haryana Saturday called off their strike after the local government accepted most of their demands, officials said.
The farmers were on protest outside the mini-secretariat (government building housing major offices) in Karnal district.
Senior official from the Haryana government Devender Singh and farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni held a joint press conference.
Singh said the government would hold an inquiry into last month's baton charging by a retired high court judge.
"Following a meeting between government officials and farmer leaders, Haryana government orders a probe in August 28 Bastara toll incident, which will be done by a retired high court judge," Singh told media. "Probe will be completed in a month and the sub-district magistrate (the officer whose behaviour was questioned) will be on leave."
The farmers alleged police action left one farmer dead and injured 10 others. A officer had ordered policemen to "smash heads of farmers", the video of which went viral on social media.
High drama unfolded in Karnal on Tuesday after a large gathering of farmers sat on a protest outside the mini-secretariat defying police deployment and climbing over barricades. The protesters erected tents outside the office to get their demands met. Authorities had suspended mobile internet services in the area.
"After discussions, we have collectively decided to call off the protest here," Gurnam Singh Charuni, a farmer leader told media after meeting with officials.
Charuni said the government has also accepted their demand of giving two jobs to the family members of the deceased farmer.
Separately thousands of farmers have been on strike since Nov. 26 last year, demanding the repeal of three controversial farm laws that they say will badly affect farmers. Though the federal government has been strongly defending the laws, farmers fear the new laws will weaken their position and make them dependent on corporates.
The protesting farmers are camping on the borders of the national capital demanding revocation of the three laws.
The farmers have held 11 rounds of talks with the federal government. However, they remained inconclusive and no breakthrough was achieved. Both the government and the farmers are adamant on their respective positions.
