Haryana official to face action over 'crack their heads' remark

Karnal : After a video of a civil officer went viral on social media in which he can be seen instructing the police officers to crack the heads of farmers who attempt to cross the barricades, Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala has assured of actions against the official.

The viral video showed Karnal Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ayush Sinha instructing a bunch of policemen to ensure that any farmer who crosses the barricade must go with "head injuries"; the video drew massive criticism from a wide section of people including BJP MP Varun Gandhi.

"The 2018 batch IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer's video has gone viral. The officer later perhaps gave a clarification that he hadn't slept for two nights... But he should know that farmers have not slept for 365 days. Action will be taken; in his training days officers were trained to be sensitive," Mr Chautala said.

Nearly 10 people were injured in the lathi-charge incident on farmers, who tried to block a highway in Karnal. They were protesting against a BJP meeting, where Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, state BJP chief Om Prakash Dhankar and other senior leaders were present.

In the video, Karnal's Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ayush Sinha is seen standing in front of a group of policemen and instructing them that no protesting farmer should go beyond a certain barricade in the area.

"It is very simple and clear, whoever he is, wherever he is from, no one should be allowed to reach there. We will not let this line be breached at any cost. Just pick up your lathi and hit them hard... It's very clear, there is no need for any instruction, just thrash them hard. If I see a single protester here, I want to see his head smashed, crack their heads," Mr Sinha is heard saying in the video.

"Any doubt?" the SDM added in the end.

"No sir," the group of policemen shouted.