ROHTAK, June 19 -- :

Accusing the Hansi police of attempting to forcefully evict protesters during a late-night operation, the Chainat villagers on Thursday took out a tractor march in support of their demand for a separate drinking water pipeline.

The protesters claimed that around 250 tractors took part in the march to the Hansi mini secretariat.

Villagers have been protesting for the past 33 days, demanding a drinking water connection from the under-construction Bhakra pipeline, meant to supply water to Hansi city.

Five villagers have been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 9, and protesters claimed that the health of 80-year-old Tek Ram Duhan, who has been on a fast since June 9, had deteriorated.

The march forced the auth...