To halt farmers’ Delhi march, Haryana jacks up security at Shambhu border

The Haryana Police have strengthened the security at Shambhu on the Punjab border in view of the Delhi march call given by farmers’ unions for December 6.

The border has been lying sealed since February this year due to the ongoing standoff between the government and the farmers over the latter’s demands, including legal MSP guarantee, debt waiver etc.

A large number of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed at the border. In addition, multi-layered cemented barricades, barbed wires and water cannons have been put in place to deter farmers from moving ahead.

Senior police officials, including Ambala Range IG Sibash Kabiraj and Ambala SP Surinder Singh Bhoria, reviewed the security at the Shambhu border. Bhoria said, “We have made adequate security arrangements. We have appealed to the farmers to maintain law and order. They have been told to obtain permission from the Delhi police for their march. We will allow them to proceed only if they have the required permissions.” Ambala DC Parth Gupta has issued orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.

Gupta said there were inputs that the agitators might gherao Parliament or camp on the highways leading to Delhi. “It is apprehended that a large number of protesters will assemble at the Shambhu border. Appropriate steps have been taken to maintain law and order,” the order read.

Barricades at Baldev Nagar flyover and 500 m ahead of the Shambhu toll plaza, which were removed last month, have been placed again. On the other hand, the protesters have announced to first send a jatha of 101 farmers to Delhi.