OKARA: Punjab Police have stopped the protesting farmers from marching towards the federal capital to press their demands at Okara Bypass.
The Pakistan Kisan Ittehad (PKI) protesting caravans from Sahiwal, Depalpur and Okara gathered at City Bypass, where police baton-charged the demonstrators, fired tear gas shells at them, injuring at least six protesters and arresting 70 arrested.
The farmers have been urging the government to fix potato price at Rs20 per kg, increase wheat support price to Rs1,350 per 40 kg, withdraw GST from agriculture inputs, give a Rs5,000 subsidy to rice.
According to District Police Officer Faisal Rana, the demand of PKI leaders to meet the prime minister had been conveyed to the authorities concerned.