FARMERS’ MARCH MOVES AHEAD FACING POLICE AND TEAR-GAS SHELLS

CHANDIGARH, Feb. 13, 2024 (TBINN)

Haryana Police hurled tear-gas shells at farmers who tried to break barricades set up at the state’s border with Punjab at Shambhu near Ambala as farmers demanding a law on Minimum Support Price marched toward Delhi.

Few farmers were detained as well near Shambhu Border, official sources said.

Haryana Police hurled tear gas shells when a group of youth, who were part of the farmers’ Chalo Delhi Protest March, tried to break barricades set up at Shambhu Border in Ambala, officials informed.

When few youth broke an iron barricade and tried to throw it off the Ghaggar River Bridge, police lobbed several rounds of tear gas shells. Police also used a drone later on to drop a tear-gas shell.

Farmers decided to begin their march after a meeting with two Union ministers over their demands, including legal guarantee to M.S.P. for crops, on Monday Evening remained inconclusive.

Many farmers along with their tractor trolleys began the march around 10 A.M. from Fatehgarh Sahib and are moving towards Delhi via Shambhu Border. The distance between Fatehgarh Sahib and Shambhu Border is around 35-40 kilometres.

Convoys of tractor trolleys by farmers could be seen heading towards the Shambhu Border on the National Highway. Elderly, youth and women could be seen sitting in the tractor trolleys.

Security personnel deployed on Haryana’s side also asked a group of youth approaching the border from Punjab’s side to stay away from the barricades near Shambhu Border.

Authorities in Haryana have fortified the state’s borders with Punjab at many places in Ambala, Jind, Fatehabad, Kurukshetra and Sirsa using concrete blocks, iron nails and barbed wire to scuttle the proposed march.

Riot control vehicles, including water cannons, have also been deployed at many places at Punjab and Haryana borders. Security personnel were keeping an eye through drones as well.

Haryana Government has also imposed restrictions under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in as many as 15 districts, prohibiting the assembly of five or more people and banning any kind of demonstration or march with tractor trolleys