Under the banner of United Kisan Morcha (SKM), farmers were preparing to sit on Wednesday (5 March) with various demands. However, while deploying heavy police forces along the border of Chandigarh, the police have stopped the farmers from entering the city. Barricades have been installed at many places across Punjab and 18 entry points of the Union Territory have been sealed.
Demonstration and police action
Farmers of Punjab have announced a protest from March 5 in Chandigarh through a tractor march. In view of this protest, Chandigarh Police has deployed around 2,000 policemen including DSP and SHO in seven areas. Deputy Inspector General of Punjab Police (DIG) H.S. Bhullar said that the protesting farmers will not be allowed to reach Chandigarh under any circumstances. At various places, the police took action, stopping tractors, trolleys and other vehicles.
Farmers taken into custody
Jatinder Singh, District President of the Revolutionary Farmers Union in Moga, said that while going to Chandigarh, Punjab Police stopped farmers in Ajitwal in Moga district. According to Singh, some farmers were also detained by the police. Also, in Samrala, the police stopped the farmers from going to Chandigarh. A senior police officer from Patiala said that the police will ensure that the protesting farmers do not move towards Chandigarh, so that the common citizens do not have any kind of inconvenience. After installing barricades in Moga’s Chuhar Chak area, every vehicle is being tested.
Blockade and traffic jam
Police have blocked the areas like Sangrur, Gharachon, Bhawanigarh and Kharar. Demonstrating farmers have been prevented from entry into the joint capital of both states by planting barricades on the Chandigarh-mohali border. Passengers are facing inconvenience due to heavy traffic jams on border posts from Mohali to Chandigarh. Chandigarh Superintendent of Police Geetanjali Khandelwal said that sufficient police are deployed at all border posts.
Administration and demands
In Sector 34 of Chandigarh, farmers have not been allowed to protest. Police issued a traffic advisory on Tuesday, stating that some roads will be maintained for public safety and smooth traffic.
The SKM, who had previously demonstrated against three agricultural laws leading the 2020 agitation, is now demanding the withdrawal of the National Policy draft on agricultural marketing, a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP) based on the Swaminathan Commission report, the implementation of the state’s agricultural policy and the purchase of six crops.
This protest is a major step in support of farmers’ demands, which the administration and police have adopted strict management to stop.
