Police had no option but to use mild force during Jan 26 violence: MHA

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 2

The government on Tuesday informed Parliament that the Delhi Police had no option but to use mild force and other means, including water cannons and teargas to control the unruly crowd after large number of protesting farmers on their tractors breached the barricades to forcibly enter the national capital on January 26 and resorted to rioting.

Responding to a written question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State (MoS) for Home G Kishan Reddy said the unruly protesting farmers created chaos at multiple locations in Delhi, which led to injuries among many of the on-duty Delhi Police personnel.

He also quoted Delhi Police to say that apart from indulging in rioting, the protesting farmers violated the COVID-19 protocols of social distancing and did not wear face-masks amid the pandemic.

“The farmers’ actions left the Delhi Police with no option but to use tear gas, water cannons and mild force to control the crowd,” the Minister said.

He also said the Delhi Police had informed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that one suicide case was reported during the farmers’ protests at Delhi border. A protester was killed during the violence on January 26 after his tractor overturned after hitting a police barricade, he added.

Meanwhile, responding to a specific if the Centre has any evidence of terrorist outfits infiltrating the farmers’ agitation, another junior Minister in the MHA Nityanand Rai said, “Requisite action is taken as per law, whenever necessary.”

He, however, contended that the Union government kept a constant watch on activities of individuals and organisations, which have bearing on national security and public order, through its security and law enforcement agencies.