OKARA, May 21: A tenant died while 17 people, 12 tenants and five military farm officials, sustained injuries in a clash over the wheat crop share on Monday.
The dispute cropped up in the evening between the farmers and the Proban Abad military farm administration on the Deepalpur-Pakpattan road, some 40 kilometres from here. The farmers beat up farm manager Khattak and Capt Nasim (retired). In retaliation, the farm administration personnel started firing on them killing one Muhammad Tufail Cheema, a tenant of Dilmin farm, on the spot. The 12 injured included Ahmad Ali, Muhammad Ali, Maqsood Ahmad, Yaqoob and a woman. Three seriously injured people were referred to Lahore.
After the incident, thousands of tenant blocked the Deepalpur-Pakpattan road for more than five hours. Senior district and police officials and district and tehsil Nazimeen held talks with them and restored traffic.
The angry tenants pelted stones at a police post.
The farm administration claimed that five of its workers sustained injuries.
A heavy police contingent was deployed at the farm as tension was high in the area.
Meanwhile, It is learnt that provincial Revenue Minister Malik Aslam is reaching here to look into the matter.
HEAT CLAIMS 2 LIVES: Two men in Jabooka village, some 15 kilometres away from here, died due to severe heat.
One Lal, 55, went to bazaars to purchase some household items where he fell on the ground and died.
Hafiz Siddique was on his home by his bicycle along with his son. He fell from the bicycle and died.