Punjab farmers raise slogans against govt; calm prevails at Khanauri border

Deepender Deswal

Hisar, February 16

A group of protesting farmers raised slogans against the government at the Khanauri-Data Singh Wala border today. Some of them were also spotted carrying pro-Khalistan posters. However, after intervention of a few senior farmer activists the group of protesters stopped their demonstrations and any attempts of trying to get close to the barricades set up by the Jind police there.

Jind SP Sumit Kumar said the police exercised restraint even after there was some provocation from a group of young activists raising slogans with pro-khalistan photographs.

Notably, after two days of clashes, a calm atmosphere has prevailed at the border since yesterday. A group of women activists from Punjab and senior functionaries of protesting farmer organisations had taken control of the proceedings at the border yesterday in view of the tense situation. The women, about 20-30 in number, remained seated in the front row.

A large number of activists have been digging their heels at the borders for the last four days as the Haryana Police have blocked their way with multilayer blockages and heavy forces.

A protester on the Haryana side of the border said there had not been any dispute at the border between the police and activists today. A delegation of farmer activists belonging to farmer bodies which did not back the ‘Dilli Chalo’ call had held a meeting with the activists at the Punjab side of the border yesterday after which things remained peaceful.