Chandigarh, March 7 It's close to midnight and Chandigarh's abandoned smooth roads are inviting. Behind the SUV's wheel, journalist Mandeep Punia can't resist negotiating a hair pin curve with the spirit of a rallyist. Shiv Kumar whispers, "Boss, I really don't want to die in an accident. Thoda Reham karo." There is mutual agreement that if something happens to these two 'stars' of the farmer's movement, it would be such an anti-climax. There is laughter, and a soft foot on the pedal thereafter.
'Guddu Ka Dhaba' in Sector - 11 is always the best bet for an unpretentious meal, and not just when the hour is too unearthly for the city's posh restaurants. Tungsten light bulbs, running decorative lights forming colourful flowers, creamy chicken, students, artists and strugglers racing each other for bent chairs. Just the perfect place for a late-night celebration and easy on the wallet.
Shiv Kumar has a bad throat. Of course, besides a fractured foot, bruised toenails and swollen fingers. Way too many interviews ever since he was released.
Granted bail on all three cases, and released on March 4 from the Sonipat jail, the 24-year-old Dalit rights activist who was arrested from the Singhu border by the Haryana Police on January 16, Kumar was in Chandigarh for a full medical check-up including psychiatric evaluation. The doctors did not hold themselves back from giving a detailed evaluation of the injuries, something that went viral on WhatsApp.
Stressing that he was not even on the spot when the clashes between the Police and the workers of Kundli Industrial Association
( With inputs from IANS )
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