A farmer in Punjab has begun an indefinite hunger strike to protest alleged illegal mining activities and the damage being caused to agricultural land by vehicles transporting sand through the area.

Bhajan Singh, a resident of Nanak Nagar Chak Bhaura village, launched the protest after alleging that ongoing mining operations and the movement of heavy vehicles carrying sand have resulted in significant losses to crops and farmland.

The hunger strike has quickly attracted support from residents of neighbouring villages, with farmers, village panchayat members and local leaders gathering at the protest site to express solidarity with the aggrieved farmer.

Community representatives who attended the gathering pledged their support to Bhajan Singh and vowed to stand united until the matter is resolved.

Local residents have raised concerns that unchecked mining activities and the continuous movement of heavy vehicles are affecting agricultural productivity and causing hardship for farming families.

Officials had not immediately responded to the allegations at the time of publication.