Connectivity snapped with Punjab in Sirsa, Fatehabad & Jind districts

Deepender Deswal

Sirsa, February 12

Even as the Sirsa administration has sealed the Punjab border by erecting multi-layer barricades and digging up roads, the Bhartiya Kisan Ekta (BKE) carried out a tractor march in some villages to demonstrate their strength today.

Meanwhile, Principal Secretary Vijayendra Kumar visited the Sirsa district and inspected the checkpoints set up by the district administration and the police. He also chaired a meeting of district officials, including Sirsa DC Parth Gupta and Dabwali SP Sumer Singh.

Sources said containers filled with sand, and cemented barricades covered with barbed wires had been set up on main points. Paramilitary and police personnel had also been deployed at all entry points, including approach roads. The roads had been dug up to restrict the movement of vehicles, thereby disconnecting the link with Punjab in Sirsa district.

Fatehabad district had also snapped road connectivity to Punjab, as almost all 45 points, including smaller roads and main highways, have been blocked by the administration. There are five to six layers of blockades on the main highways at Ratia, Tohana and Jakhal, which are the main connection points to Punjab in the district.

The sources said some groups of farmer activists belonging to the SKM (non-political) and Kisan Majdoor Morcha in Punjab had reached near the Haryana border today.

In Jind district, the main connecting road, Data Singh Wala border in Narwana subdivision, has been sealed. Jind SP Sumit Kumar said people should avoid visiting Punjab as the roads were blocked. “In case of an emergency, commuters should adhere to the guidelines issued by the police and travel on the routes prescribed by the police,” he said.

Cavalcade of 100 tractors ready to move

We have made all preparations for the march. Our cavalcade of about 100 tractors is ready to move. We will not wait for Punjab farmers to cross over to Haryana, though our activists will extend help to them in removing the blockades. — Rajinder Singh Chahal, bku (kheti bachao) leader