Thaindian News

Zirakpur (Punjab), May 14 (IANS) After nearly a month of protest perched atop a tree in his Punjab village, farmer Avtar Singh Nagla Saturday descended from his high-level camp though he failed in his demand to meet Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

The farmer clambered up a 40-foot eucalyptus tree in Nagla village near this Punjab town April 15, insisting that Badal come to the spot to listen to his grievances over a land dispute.

Since May 1, Nagla was taking only liquid diet. The deteriorating health condition also forced him to end his protest.

However, he succeeded in getting a written assurance from the Mohali deputy commissioner to look into the issue.

Nagla, who was demanding a fresh probe in a nearly four-decade old land dispute, was brought down by fire brigade officials.

A heavy police force was deployed in the area. Immediately after coming down, he was taken to a local hospital for the medical check-up.

“Mohali deputy commissioner has directed the officials concerned to look into the matter and submit a report in 20 days. We will make sure that justice is done in this case,” said Sanjeev Kumar, district revenue officer of Mohali.

During his tree-top protest, Nagla had gathered huge support from the local people, who erected a tent near the tree and supplied food to him while he continued his tree-top stay.

Jaswinder Kaur, Nagla’s wife, said: “My husband was complaining of vomiting and breathing problems. He also had severe pain on his knees. He ended the protest after getting a written assurance from the deputy commissioner.”

Nagla has a controversial past with many cases registered against him in various police stations of Punjab and Chandigarh.

Nagla village in Mohali district, located on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway near Zirakpur town, is around 15 km from Chandigarh.