Protesters Halted at Punjab-Haryana Boundary, Police Deploy Tear Gas

Chandigarh, Dec 8 (NationPress) Tension erupted at the Shambhu border, the gateway from Punjab to Haryana, on Sunday as a group of 101 protesting farmers was obstructed and prohibited from advancing towards the national capital due to restrictions in place. To disperse the crowd, the police resorted to firing tear gas shells.

The police asserted that they had a list containing the names of 101 farmers, supplied by agricultural unions, yet the individuals in the protest did not match those names.

“We will first identify them and then we can allow them to go ahead. We have a list of the names of 101 farmers, and they are not those people. Also, they can’t move ahead in mass as the local (Ambala) administration has prohibited any procession on foot, vehicles or through any other mode,” a Haryana Police official at the scene told the media.

Farmers, under the banners of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, commenced the second day of their “Delhi Chalo” march after postponing it for a day on Saturday, but were halted after advancing only a few metres to the barricades, which were secured by a heavy welded wire mesh.

The farmers are marching in support of their long-standing demands, which include a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops, loan waivers, and reforms to enhance conditions in the agricultural sector.

“The Haryana government has transformed this border into a scene reminiscent of the India-Pakistan border,” remarked a protester.

As a precautionary measure to prevent any unforeseen incidents, security at the interstate border, situated along the Ghaggar rivulet, has been intensified.

In a gesture of goodwill, police personnel made attempts to calm the farmers, who argued that as Indians, they possess the right to march to their national capital without needing permission, much like any citizen. The police provided them with water and biscuits.

Protesting farmers, primarily from Punjab, had postponed their march for a day on Friday as they reported that six individuals were injured in a clash with security forces.

They also expressed readiness to engage in dialogue with the Centre regarding their demands without confrontation. However, they decided to continue their protest as they had yet to receive any invitation for discussions from the Central government.

At the Shambhu border, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher informed the media that they have not received any communication from the Centre regarding talks to resolve their issues and stated that a group of 101 farmers would once again commence their march to Delhi.

Central paramilitary forces have also been stationed on the Haryana side of the border alongside state police.

Haryana Police had previously informed the first batch of 101 farmers intending to travel to the national capital not to advance further, citing a prohibitory order enacted under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Security forces deployed at least 50 tear gas shells to disperse the protesting farmers when they attempted to scale the makeshift barricades, heavily guarded by paramilitary and police personnel. These barricades were temporarily established to prevent the protesting farmers from proceeding.

Mobile internet services and bulk messaging have been suspended in certain areas of Ambala district. District officials have issued orders prohibiting gatherings of five or more individuals, and both government-run and private schools were closed for the day at the administration's directive.

To avert disturbances, the Haryana Police fortified security at Ambala's border with Punjab, employing multilayered barricades at the Shambhu border along National Highway 44 and deploying water cannons.

The farmers’ prior attempts to march to Delhi on February 13 and 21 were obstructed by stringent security measures at the Punjab-Haryana border. Since then, farmers under the banners of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been staging protests at the border.