Rohtak farmers await nod from Punjab counterparts

Ravinder Saini

Rohtak/Jhajjar, February 21

The volatile situation emerged at the Khanauri border after the police lobbed tear gas shells on protesting Punjab farmers on Wednesday forced the Delhi and Haryana Police yet again to sound an alert at the Tikri-Bahadurgarh border.

Officers of the Delhi Police visited the Tikri border to review security arrangements made there to prevent the farmers from entering the national capital while the Jhajjar police personnel also took out a foot march in the outer area of Bahadurgarh town, said sources. A total of 10 companies of the paramilitary and local police have been deployed at the Bahadurgarh border by the Haryana Police while a large number of paramilitary personnel are also guarding the Tikri border from the Delhi side.

The Delhi Police have already sealed all three borders — Tikri, Jharoda Kalan and Dhansa — connecting Haryana from Jhajjar. Only a little space has been left between concrete blockades for the passersby.

“The fresh call for the “Delhi march” by the Punjab farmers today forced the police authorities of both Jhajjar and Delhi to swing into action to re-inspect the barricades and other security arrangements at the borders,” said a police official.

Jhajjar SP Dr Arpit Jain said “A close tab is being kept on the developments taking place regarding the farm protest. No one will be allowed to take law into their hands,” he added.

In Rohtak, protesting farmers staging an indefinite dharna near the Rohtak-Jind highway at Titoli village for the past over a week said they were ready to march towards Delhi but waiting for the message in this regard from their leaders.

“We are eagerly waiting for the Punjab farmers to come here through the Khanauri border so that all can proceed toward Delhi together.,” said Monika Raman Nain, a woman farm leader.