Farmers suspend march in Delhi after clashes at Punjab-Haryana border; several injured

CHANDIGARH: Protesting farmers on Friday suspended their foot march to Delhi for a day as some of them were injured after police fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets at the Punjab-Haryana border.

Earlier in the day, a ‘jatha’ of 101 farmers started marching towards Delhi from their protest site at the Shambhu border, but was stopped a few meters away by a multi-layered barricade erected by Haryana police.

When the group reached the barricades, security personnel threw tear gas canisters to force them to retreat to their protest site. Many farmers rushed to cover the tear gas canisters with wet gunny bags to contain the smoke. Some of them were seen pulling out iron nails and barbed wire to stop their march. Many of the ‘jatha’ crossed the first layer of barricades but could go no further.

Some of them were seen pushing an iron mesh of security personnel across the bridge over Ghaggar river. One of the protesters climbed onto the roof of a tin shaded area where security forces were stationed. He was forced to climb down.

Water cannon vehicles have also been deployed at the Shambhu border point. Haryana Police asked the farmers not to proceed further, citing a prohibitory order imposed by the Ambala government under BNS Section 163, which restricts unlawful gathering of five or more people in the district. The Haryana government on Friday suspended mobile internet services in 11 villages in Ambala from December 6 to 9 as a precautionary measure.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher claimed that five-six protesters were injured. He later announced the suspension of the march for that day and said the injured farmers had been taken to a hospital. “We have recalled the jatha for today due to the injuries suffered by some farmers,” he said, adding that the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha would decide the next course of action after a meeting. .

The farmers are demanding that the Center give them a legal guarantee for MSP. They have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, when their march towards Delhi was stopped by security forces.