Farmers' agitation: After two days of clashes, calm prevails at Shambhu border

Tribune News Service

Aman Sood

Shambhu, February 15

After two days of confrontation between protesting farmers and Haryana Police personnel, the situation remained far more composed at the Shambhu border today.

There was neither any drone movement into the Punjab territory, nor any loudspeaker warnings were issued by the Haryana Police as farmers did not make any attempt to enter Haryana. However, the Haryana Police personnel maintained a strict vigil in the area.

Vigil continues

• In their attempt to reach Delhi via Ambala, the protesting farmers have had several clashes with the police since Tuesday morning
• The police dropped tear gas shells on protesters using drones, fired water cannons and rubber bullets to thwart agitators’ march over the past two days
• Things remained quiet on Thursday as farm leaders waited for the outcome of their meeting with Union ministers
• Haryana Police personnel, however, continued to maintain a strict vigil in the area

Around 120 persons, including farmers, journalists and police personnel, have been injured in the confrontation at Shambhu since Tuesday.

Hundreds of farmers continued to camp at the border, delaying their plan to march towards Delhi. Farmers were seen busy enjoying the sun and partaking of langar.

None of the farm union members or farmers, however, left the dharna site and continued to camp around 300 m away from the barricades, waiting for the outcome of the meeting between their leaders and Union ministers.

A long queue of tractor-trailers was seen on the Rajpura-Shambhu stretch of the national highway. “Our leaders are in Chandigarh. They will be back to address us in the morning. We are in no hurry as we are carrying all essential items with us,” farmers said.

In the morning, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher condemned the firing by Haryana Police personnel on agitating farmers over the past two days.

“The use of rubber bullets, plastic shells and even smoke bombs shows the real intent of Haryana. Many farmers have suffered serious injuries,” he said. The decision on vacating the Shambhu border or carrying forward the agitation would be taken tomorrow, he said. Not a single tractor-trailer had gone back, rather more protesters had reached the Shambhu barrier, sources added.

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