Haryana Police step up security ahead of Saturday’s ‘chakka jam’

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 5

Haryana Police have stepped up security measures in view of the call for a countrywide ‘chakka jam’ on Saturday, even as farmer unions said there would be no jam in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of the farmer unions protesting the three farm laws, also said there would be no ‘chakka jam’ in Delhi.

Senior Haryana police officers have been asked to personally supervise security and traffic arrangements at vital junctions and roads while district police chiefs have been directed to ensure deployment of adequate personnel, according to an official communication issued to them.

“In view of the January 26 incidents in Delhi, some anti-social elements and aggressive youth creating law and order problems cannot be ruled out,” read the communication dated February 4.

“It is assessed that as part of the protest programme on February 6, protesting farmers/unions may attempt road blockades of important national highways, state highways and interior roads,” it said, asking the police to ensure necessary security arrangements were in place.

The police commissioners and district police chiefs have been asked to make all-out efforts to liaison with local leaders of farmer organisations to ensure peaceful conduct of their proposed programme.

Also read: No ‘chakka jam’ in Delhi says farmers’ body

Farmer unions had on Monday announced that they would hold a countrywide chakka jam on February 6 and block national and state highways for three hours to protest against the Internet ban in areas near their agitation sites, and alleged harassment meted out to them by authorities, and other issues.

In Uttar Pradesh, though, two deaths, that of Navreet Singh, who died during the January 26 violence at ITO in New Delhi and another of Baljinder Singh’s, who was killed in an accident, has forced a rethink.

The decision against ‘chakka jam’ in UP and Uttarakhand was taken after a meeting between Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s Balbir Singh Rajewal and Bhartiya Kisan Union’s national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait in Gazipur on Friday.

“People near the Pilibhit belt are very angry. Those deaths have angered the youth and we may see a reaction during the jam so that’s why we have called it off in these two states,” said a leader who attended the meeting.

“We are keen to avoid any untoward incidents during the jam. It has to be peaceful,” he added.

Farmers in these two states will sit in dharna in selected places and then hand over a list of their demands to the district administration regarding monies due to the farmers.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha has also issued a list of guidelines as per which only national and state highways are to be jammed from 12 noon to 3 pm. However, there will be no chakka jam in and around the National Capital Region.

Also the leaders have appealed to keep it peaceful and non violent.

Meanwhile, Haryana Home and Health Minister Anil Vij has appealed to the peasant leaders to call off the chakka jam.

Replying to a question in Gurugram, Vij said, “Biggest problems in the world and even international issues are solved through dialogue.”

Vij said the government was always ready for talks and the protesting farmers must come forward. “The government is always ready for talks and the Prime Minister has said the doors for talks are open. So they should come forward,” he said.

Vij said that in a democracy everyone had the right to protest and hold dharnas, “but while exercising that right, one should also keep in mind that they should not violate the rights of others and common man should not be inconvenienced”.

“So it is my appeal to farmer leaders that they should call off their chakka jam programme.” (With PTI inputs)