Punjab court reviews plea against farmer leader's detention

The Punjab and Haryana high court has asked the Punjab government to provide a report on the detention of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal. His detention has been challenged in a legal plea filed by Gurmukh Singh, vice president of the Bharti Kisan Union (Doaba). Dallewal is also involved with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM). The plea claims that Dallewal and other leaders were detained without notice, which has led to clashes between farmers and police. Justice Manisha Batra took up the case in an urgent hearing on Friday evening. The court has instructed the state to submit a status report by Monday. Dallewal's detention raises concerns about violations of his fundamental rights, particularly the right to due process. The plea states that no formal arrest procedures were followed. It also seeks to ensure the safety of Dallewal and other leaders who are reportedly missing. Dallewal was detained after a meeting with Union ministers in Chandigarh on Wednesday. This meeting led to police clearing long-standing blockades on highways by farmers. The plea notes that 300 to 400 members of farmer organizations are also unaccounted for, and expresses concern that such detentions aim to suppress the farmers' movement and infringe on their right to peacefully protest.