Over 350 people gathered in Hali Mandi, in the town centre, and refused to go away till the administration acted. Protestors also held up two trains, one at Rewari station and the other at Ishanpuri.

It took Deputy Commissioner of Police Sateesh Balan, tehsildar R.R.S. Sharma, and Sub-divisional Magistrate Vatsal Vashisht over three hours to persuade the villagers to lift the blockade.

Balan ordered the suspension of Shobha Ram, in-charge of the local police chowki, who people said had not acted after the first victim, Ramesh Kumar, was found near a field on Friday.

On Monday morning another farmer, Dinesh, 45, was found dead in his field. Villagers said it was Dinesh who had discovered Ramesh’s body and gone to police two days back.

“Police tried to hush up today’s matter,” said Gulshan Kumar, brother of the first victim, explaining the anger. “There’s a big gang of robbers attacking our farms to take away copper wire and police is doing nothing.”

Wiring was missing from tube wells on seven farms today. Police said it was common for robbers to carry off wire, burn away the plastic insulation, and sell the copper.

Balan said that an officer of sub-inspector rank would be put in charge of the chowki. He also said that there were definite leads and that the killings would likely be solved by Saturday.