Farmers were teargassed in Bathinda district for the second time in less than two weeks after a violent clash broke out between activists of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) and the police at Jeond village in Rampura Phul block on Wednesday. Around 30 protesters were rounded up.Both sides resorted to stone pelting during the nearly 20-minute confrontation. Several farmers were injured, including one who suffered a serious hand injury and another who sustained a fractured leg and was referred to Ludhiana for treatment. Three police personnel were taken to hospital for first aid. The Rampura Phul SDM also sustained minor injuries.On February 6, farmers were teargassed at Jethuke village when they tried to march towards Bathinda city.On both occasions, the union had announced an indefinite protest outside the District Administrative Complex (DAC), demanding the release of farm activists Shagandeep Singh Jeond and Baldev Singh Chauke. They have been lodged in the Bathinda jail since April 5 last year in an attempt-to-murder case linked to an alleged attack on a DSP and other police personnel during a protest at Jeond.Despite heavy police deployment and preventive detentions, protesters gathered at the village common land. Union leader Shingara Singh Mann alleged the police lobbed teargas shells from rooftops, escalating tension. He claimed a vehicle was damaged, four activists were detained and later released.Bathinda SSP Jyoti Yadav said the “mob” pelted stones from rooftops. “We used mild force and lobbed teargas shells to disperse them. The situation is under control,” she said. DIG Harjeet Singh said around 30 protesters were rounded up and no fresh FIR had been registered.The union is also seeking cancellation of five FIRs registered against over 2,000 farmers in connection with the February 6 protest.