A day after Punjab Police detained protesting farmers and demolished their temporary structures, traffic resumed on the Shambhu-Ambala highway (NH-19) on Thursday evening after more than a year as police and civil administration officers from Punjab and Haryana removed blockades set up by farmers affiliated with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.
The Khanauri border point (NH-52) is also expected to open soon with the authorities working tirelessly to clear hundreds of tractor-trailers stationed there.
The road clearance exercise continued even as angry farmers held protests at several places in Punjab, including Moga, Tarn Taran, Muktsar and Faridkot against the last evening crackdown on the protesters at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders.
Hours after the police crackdown, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha announced a nationwide protest outside the offices of deputy commissioners on Thursday.
A few farmer leaders announced a 'chakka jaam' across Punjab to register their protest against the arrest of farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Sarwan Singh Pandher and others.
Such announcements were made at village level and farmers told to block the nearest roads. Several farmer leaders were put under house arrest in order to prevent them from lodging a protest.
March 20, 2025 9:31 pm
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (All-India) leaders have received an invitation from Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian for talks at Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh tomorrow at 4 pm. Prior to the meeting, SKM will hold a meeting of its core committee members at Kisan Bhawan.
March 20, 2025 6:10 pm
March 20, 2025 6:07 pm
Removal of cemented barricades also begins at Singhu border
March 20, 2025 6:01 pm
On Thursday, a large group of KMSC activists staged a protest near the District Administration Complex, demanding the release of their detained leaders from the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. They were detained later. The activists also tried to block National Highway-54, but a heavy police force stopped them. KMSC leaders, including state president Sukhwinder Singh Sabhra, state general secretary Ranbir Rana, and others, condemned the government's action, calling it an attempt to sabotage the ongoing talks.
March 20, 2025 5:23 pm
Traffic has been allowed into Haryana, and police teams are also clearing barriers. The other side of the is road likely to be opened later in the evening. Heavy vehicles to be allowed after getting clearance from NHAI safety team.
March 20, 2025 5:17 pm
March 20, 2025 5:14 pm
Phagwara: BKU Doaba general secretary Satnam Singh Sahni described the government's actions as a clear display of hostility toward farmers. He alleged that police forces were being used to forcibly evict protesters, with reports of lathi charges and other coercive measures, including the targeting of women and children. “The arrest of hundreds of SKM leaders during the Chandigarh protest, along with this brutal crackdown, exposes the government’s anti-farmer stance,” Sahni said.
March 20, 2025 4:55 pm
In Faridkot, police prevented farmers from blocking National Highway-15. Over 200 farmers were taken into custody and transported to undisclosed locations in buses. DSP Tarlochan Singh stated that the security forces were following government orders to maintain law and order. He urged farmers not to disrupt daily life and warned of strict action against any unlawful assembly. Detained farmers condemned the police action, calling it an attempt by the Punjab government to suppress their voices.
March 20, 2025 4:46 pm
BKU (Sidhupur) activists from Lehra blocked the Moonak-Chandigarh road at Salemgarh village, resulting in the police taking around 100 farmers into custody. Similarly, the Dirba police detained about 50 farmers from BKU (Sidhupur) who were protesting on the Sangrur-Patran road at Sulargharat village, near Dirba.
March 20, 2025 4:42 pm
Around 200 BKU (Azad) activists, including women, staged a dharna outside the DC office complex in Sangrur. Police detained Jaswinder Singh Longowal, a state-level leader of BKU (Azad), along with more than 150 farmers. Meanwhile, in Bhawanigarh, about 30 farmers from BKU (Sidhupur) were taken into custody by the police for blocking the Sangrur-Bhawanigarh main road.
March 20, 2025 4:40 pm
On the Punjab Police's action against protesting farmers, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said, "This was expected from CM Bhagwant Mann. I had warned the farmers about this months ago. I hold Kejriwal directly responsible for this. He didn’t come here for vipassana; he came to rule and exploit Punjab. They are not with anyone—neither farmers nor youth."
March 20, 2025 4:29 pm
Subash Chander, a police officer from Haryana supervising the removal of the slab, stated that the highway will not be reopened until the road is completely cleared and both sides ensure it is safe and suitable for commuting. He stressed that the situation must be secure and conducive to travel before the road can be made operational. Chander further mentioned that they are awaiting the green signal to resume normal traffic.
March 20, 2025 4:19 pm
Sukhpal Khaira, MLA from Bholath and president of the All India Kisan Congress, demanded the immediate release of detained farmer leaders and called for the registration of cases against police officials involved in the forcible eviction of peacefully protesting farmers. Khaira criticised Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, alleging that he was adopting BJP-like policies, including the use of force and bulldozers to dismantle the peaceful farmer protests. He accused the CM of appeasing PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah by suppressing the farmers' movement.
March 20, 2025 2:02 pm
Patiala: SKM All-India members are holding a meeting at Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib here to discuss the future course of action following a police crackdown on farmers at Shambhu and Khanauri.
March 20, 2025 2:01 pm
Amritsar: At least 50 farmers were arrested by the city police here on Thursday as they were marching towards the deputy commissioner’s office to stage a protest against the state government. The Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee had given a call for protests at deputy commissioner’s offices across the state.
March 20, 2025 12:47 pm
Gurdaspur: Nearly 50 protesting farmers who were sitting in front of the DC office for the past three days quietly dispersed on Tursday morning after senior police officials warned them that they would be taken into custody if they did not leave the site. SSP Aditya said force was not needed as the farmers left the DC office after they were told about the consequences.
March 20, 2025 12:25 pm
March 20, 2025 12:18 pm
March 20, 2025 12:09 pm
In Khanauri, Hanuman Palace converted into a temporary jail. Over 300 people picked up from the protest site have been detained there.
March 20, 2025 11:20 am
New Delhi: Punjab Congress MPs on Thursday protested against the crackdown on farmers of the state and raised anti-government slogans in Parliament. State Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, MPs Gurjit Aujla, Amar Singh and others sought justice for farmers. "Release the detained farmers," Warring led the slogans against the BJP and AAP. While the Congress has blamed the BJP and AAP for the surprise action against farmers, Punjab's ruling AAP has said that farmers should protest in Delhi as their issues are with the Centre. TNS
March 20, 2025 11:02 am
Moga: Congress leader Sukhpal Khaira has condemned the arrests of prominent farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarabjit Singh Pandher by the Punjab government. Khaira said it exposed the Mann government’s “anti-farmer and dictatorial” mindset.
March 20, 2025 9:43 am
Gurdeep Singh, spokesperson of SKM (Non-Political), said the detained farmer leaders have started a hunger strike in police custody.
March 20, 2025 9:28 am
In light of the farmers' agitation, internet services have been suspended in Sangrur district. Internet is off since Wednesday evening in Patiala and sorrounding towns.
March 20, 2025 9:26 am
Farmer leader Dallewal was taken to PWD rest house in Jalandhar Cantt.
March 20, 2025 8:59 am
Sources in the state government say their strategy is to keep shifting Dallewal for the next two days to avoid any build-up of farmers in his favour. His whereabouts are being kept a closely guarded secret.
March 20, 2025 8:59 am
The nine-member committee of Samyukt Kisan Morcha to have its meeting around noon, to discuss their strategy.
March 20, 2025 8:59 am
According to police, the Shambhu border is now almost cleared from Punjab side and they have apprised their counterparts in Haryana. The slabs and boulders are now to be removed by Haryana Police.
March 20, 2025 8:58 am
Ambala: The Haryana-Punjab inter-state Shambhu border will be opened for vehicular traffic; machines deployed to break concrete slabs.
March 20, 2025 8:52 am
The SKM (All India), consisting of leaders including Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Darshan Pal and Harinder Singh Lakhowal, will hold meetings on Thursday to decide the next course of action. Terming the police crackdown as unprecedented, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait has urged the famer unions from across the country to unite or the government would “continue to quell their protest and facilitate corporates”.
March 20, 2025 8:51 am
Jagjit Dallewal was brought to PIMS in Jalandhar. He refused to get admitted there and lay in a police vehicle outside the hospital amid tight security. Later, he was taken to another place.
March 20, 2025 8:48 am
Haryana Police have sent notices to the houses of farmer leaders Jasmeet Singh and Tejveer Singh. They have been asked to appear before the SIT on Thursday, which is probing the case registered against them last year. The notice reads that if they fail to appear before the SIT it would invite legal action.
