Chandigarh: A farmer, Pargat Singh, 65, died at the Shambhu border protest site early Friday morning raising the death toll to 40 since February 13, 2024, when the farmers began their protest at Shambhu and Khanauri borders to press for their demands including minimum support price (MSP) and debt waiver.

According to farmer leaders, the farmer collapsed after he woke up early this morning following which he was rushed to the government hospital in nearby Rajpura town of Punjab’s Patiala district, where he was declared brought dead. Doctors said that the exact cause of death would be ascertained after a viscera report.

Media reports said that Pargat Singh, a resident of Kakkar village in Amritsar, who owned two acres of land, is survived by his three children – two daughters and a son.

Stating that as many as 40 farmers have died so far at Shambhu and Khanauri borders since February, 2024, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher demanded financial compensation of Rs 5 lakh and a government job to the family of the deceased.

Meanwhile, reports are that the various farmer organisations plan to hold three ``mahapanchayats’’ ahead of February 14 when the Centre government is scheduled to hold a meeting with farmer leaders over latter’s demands including MSP and debt waiver.

Meanwhile, farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose fast-unto-death entered 68th day on Friday, again urged all the farmer unions to sink their differences and fight for farmers’ demands collectively.