Cops halt farmers’ Chandigarh march

Farmers heading toward Chandigarh with tractor-trolleys to take part in an agitation were stopped on the road opposite to the Hedon police post in Samrala today. The Khanna police had set up barricades, preventing them from moving further. Unable to cross, the farmers began a peaceful sit-in on the side of the road without obstructing traffic.

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Jagbir Singh Beniwal, a member of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, stated that they were en route to Chandigarh but the Khanna police didn’t allow them to move further. “Since we have been stopped here, we have started a sit-in on the roadside without causing any inconvenience to commuters. As per our union’s plan, we will reach Chandigarh in the coming days. Until then, our protest will continue here,” he said.

Pargat Singh of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, who arrived with fellow members from Ferozepur, also confirmed that the Khanna police did not allow them to proceed toward Chandigarh. “We have started a peaceful dharna on the roadside, and we will continue our protest until we are allowed to move beyond the barricades,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nilambari Vijay Jagdale, who arrived in Samrala to monitor the situation, stated that heavy barricading had been put in place to prevent farmers from reaching Chandigarh, where they could cause disruptions. “Police will not allow them to cross these barricades, as their dharna in Chandigarh could create inconvenience for the public,” the DIG said.

She said,”A total of 11 strong nakas have been set up across the three police districts of Khanna, Ludhiana Rural, and Nawanshahr. Additionally, heavy deployment has been made at eight major assembly points of farmers to maintain law and order.” Asked if some union leaders were also detained, DIG replied that yesterday some preventive arrests were made as per law and legal action was flame against the members.