Chandigarh, December 8 (IANS). The group of 101 farmers leaving for Delhi was stopped at Shambhu border. They were not allowed to proceed towards the national capital. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the farmers.
The police claimed that they had a list of names of 101 farmers provided by the farmer unions, but the names of the protesting farmers were not in that list.
A Haryana Police officer deployed at the spot told the media, “We will first identify them and then let them go ahead. We have a list of names of 101 farmers, and they are not these people. Also, they cannot move forward en masse as the local (Ambala) administration has banned taking out procession on foot, in vehicles or by any other means.
Farmers under the banner of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha began their “Delhi Chalo” march on the second day after adjourning it for a day on Saturday, but just meters away from heavy barbed wire barricades. They were stopped.
Let us tell you that farmers are marching in support of their pending demands, which include legal guarantee of minimum support price for crops, loan waiver and reforms to improve conditions in the agricultural sector.
A protesting farmer said, “The Haryana government has made this border like the India-Pakistan border.”
As a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incident, security has been beefed up along the interstate border located on the Ghaggar drain.
Policemen tried to pacify the farmers, but people were seen arguing that being Indians, they had the right to march to the national capital without permission like any other citizen.
Protesting farmers, mainly from Punjab, on Friday postponed their march by a day as they claimed six of them were injured in a clash with security forces.
He also said that they are ready to talk to the Center regarding their demands without conflict with the government. But they decided to resume their protest as they did not receive any proposal for talks from the central government.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher at the Shambhu border told the media that they have not received any message from the Center for talks to resolve their issues and said a group of 101 farmers will again start their march to Delhi.
Along with the state police, central paramilitary forces have also been deployed on the Haryana side of the border.
Haryana Police on Friday had asked the first batch of 101 farmers heading towards the national capital not to proceed further and cited prohibitory orders imposed under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Defense Code (BNSS).
The security forces also fired at least 50 tear gas shells to disperse the protesting farmers after they tried to cross the temporary barricades set up under tight security by paramilitary forces and police personnel.
Mobile internet and sending bulk messages have been banned in some parts of Ambala district. District authorities have already issued orders banning gathering of five or more people and government and private schools have been closed for the day on the orders of the administration.
To prevent disruption, Haryana Police had tightened security along Ambala’s border with Punjab by erecting multi-layered barricades at Shambhu border on National Highway 44.
-IANS
MKS/KR
