Two farmers from Nandurbar who participated in the Lok Sangharsh Morcha in the city last week have gone missing since the farmers’rally.
The protest was held from November 19 to November 22, and after it was called off, the farmers left for home by train. However, organisers of the Morcha said Sampat Singa Naik (42) and Fateh Singh Choudhary (40) never made it home.
Pratibha Shinde, leader of Lok Sangharsh Morcha, said, “Certain farmers were going to leave for western Maharashtra while some were going to Nandurbar via Gujarat. We got to know that Fateh Singh was not on Azad Maidan on November 23 and registered a missing person complaint the same day. However, it frequently happens that some people leave earlier than others, and the fact that protesters went home in 60 different trains added to the confusion. After all the trains reached their respective destinations, we learned from the farmers’ families that they were missing.”
Ms. Shinde said that after efforts to trace them failed, complaints were registered with the Nandurbar police and the Azad Maidan police. “Our biggest concern is that the men only know their tribal dialect. They are carrying pamphlets with our contact details. Hopefully, someone sees them and contacts us,” she said.
Senior police inspector Vasant Wakhare said, “Some trains taken by the farmers left later than others. We are checking if they are missing or simply delayed. Inquiries are under way into the matter.”
