‘Dilli Chalo’: Protesting farmers try to forcibly remove barricades, tear-gassed at Shambhu, Jind

Aman Sood

Shambhu, February 13

At least 13 persons, including some scribes, were severely injured as Haryana Police personnel fired tear gas shells to stop hundreds of farmers trying to enter Haryana forcibly via the Shambhu border today. Later in the evening, farmers’ representatives reportedly declared a “ceasefire”.

Reports from Haryana said over 10 security personnel, including a DSP-rank officer, were injured as farmers indulged in stone-throwing at the Shambhu border.

Tear gas shells, rubber bullets and water cannons were used by the police at Khanauri-Data Singh Wala in Jind district of Haryana to disperse hundreds of farmers who tried to go past the barricades put up by the authorities. Nearly, 10 police personnel suffered injuries as some youths assaulted them at Khanauri border. Some protesters were detained after they continued to gather there despite repeated warnings. The security was beefed up in other districts of Haryana too.

Farmers protesting at Shambhu barrier alleged that Haryana Police personnel also fired rubber bullets, causing injuries to a number of persons. Action by the Haryana Police ensured that the farmers could not enter the state despite displacing some concrete blocks put up on the Ghaggar bridge.

Around 1,200 tractor-trailers reached the Shambhu barrier around 10 am, while 400 more such vehicles reached there by 11.30 am. The confrontation with the Haryana Police started around 12 noon when some youths tried to remove the concrete blocks put up on the Ghaggar bridge.

Haryana Police personnel used loudspeakers to warn those youths. They fired tear gas shells as the protesters did not pay heed to those warnings. Hundreds of farmer union supporters were seen running helter-skelter. The melee, however, continued even thereafter.

Around 6 pm, farmers tried to enter Haryana through the fields and by crossing the Ghaggar. Their attempts were, however, thwarted by the Haryana Police by firing tear gas shells. Farmers and police personnel hurled stones at each other. Farm leaders later claimed that their more than 60 activists were injured in the police action. Farmers did not attack any police official, they claimed.

“This is complete anarchy. Haryana Police personnel are firing tear gas shells, rubber bullets and even throwing stones at protesters who have not yet entered Haryana. We are in the Punjab territory, why are we being attacked like this?” said members of farmer unions.

“We will not stop till we reach Delhi even if we have to continue with our struggle for several days. We only wanted to march peacefully, but the Haryana Police put up barricades and used force to stop us,” said Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee. “Over 60 persons have been injured in action by the Haryana Police, including firing of rubber bullets,” he alleged.

Claiming that they have not received any invite for further talks, SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal announced a ceasefire and appealed to the Haryana Police to stop firing tear gas shells on the farmers camping on the roads near the Shambhu barrier. (With inputs from Nitish Sharma in Ambala and Deepender Deswal in Hisar)