Punjab farmer part of protest dies in cold wave

A farmer protesting near the Delhi-Haryana border died on Thursday morning allegedly because of the bitter cold. The man, who was a father of three children, was found dead at a site where thousands of farmers have been protesting for 22 days against central farm laws.

Reports of the death came hours after a Sikh priest died by suicide close to the epicenter of the protests at the Delhi-Haryana border. Baba Ram Singh, a priest from a Gurdwara in Haryana, had strongly supported the protests and left a note saying he was angry and pained at the government’s injustice.

More than 20 protesters have died since the agitation began in end November. Many are believed to have suffered because of the rising winter chill and a cold wave in north India.

Temperatures have dipped to around five degrees or less in Delhi and its neighbourhood over the past few days. Day temperatures have also dropped more than four degrees below normal.

Opposition leaders have been tweeting since last evening, offering condolences and targeting the ruling BJP.

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