Situation under control after clash at Singhu; number of protesters swells

New Delhi, January 29

Clashes broke out on Friday between protesting farmers and a group of men shouting anti-farmer and pro-police slogans, and authorities used tear gas and batons to break up the fight at Singhu, which is one of the protest sites near the national capital.

Delhi Police SHO (Alipur) Pradeep Paliwal was injured in the violence after a man attacked him with a sword, an official said, adding that some people were also wounded.

The official said that police detained the man who attacked the station house officer.

The group claiming to be locals demanded that the farmers vacate the Singhu border, one of the main protest sites around the capital, alleging that they had “insulted” the national flag during their tractor parade on Republic Day.

Armed with sticks, the group reached the site and asked the farmers to leave while raising slogans against them. Both sides also pelted stones at each other. The protesters at the Singhu border, much of which is barred for entry from outside, came out in numbers to resist the locals.

However, they were promptly stopped by farmer union volunteers, which helped the situation from turning ugly.

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The locals demanded that the farmers vacate the Singhu border protest site as they had “insulted” the national flag during their tractor parade on Republic Day.

Armed with sticks, the group of locals reached the site and asked the farmers to leave while raising slogans against them. Both sides also pelted each other with stones. The protesters at the Singhu border, much of which is barred for entry from outside, came out in numbers to resist the locals.

 “They are not locals, but hired goons. They were throwing stones, petrol bombs at us. They attempted to burn down our trolleys also. We are here to resist them. We won’t leave the place,” said Harkirat Mann Beniwal, 21, from Punjab’s Khana district.

Meanwhile, more protesters poured in at Singhu border. Police say the situation is now under control.

Thousands of protesting farmers had clashed with the police during the tractor rally called by farmer unions on January 26 to highlight their demand for repeal of the Centre’s three farm laws.

Many of the protesters, driving tractors, reached the Red Fort and entered the monument. Some protesters even hoisted religious flags on its domes and the flagstaff at the ramparts, where the national flag is unfurled by the prime minister on Independence Day.

 Meanwhile, Haryana government suspended telecom, internet and SMS services in 14 districts in the aftermath of the clash. --- Agencies/TNS

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