A day before protest, Punjab Police raid farmer leaders' homes amid failed talks
The Punjab Police conducted raids at residences of several farmer union leaders last night, arresting nearly 350 across the state. This move comes after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann took a firm stance against the Samyukta Kisan Morcha's plan to stage a protest march to Chandigarh on March 5.
The police have indicated that the number of arrested farmers may be updated later in the evening. The crackdown is likely a response to the planned protest, which the government seems determined to prevent.
Among those detained by the police are Samyukt Kisan Morcha leaders Ruldu Singh Mansa, Prem Singh Bhangu, and Paramdeep Singh Baidwan, who were picked up from Mohali and Chandigarh.
From Barnala, the detained individuals include Jagir Singh Chiniwal (District President, BKU/Kadian), Hardeep Singh Talewal (State Organising Secretary, BKU/Ugrahan), Manjeet Raj (District General Secretary, Kirti Kisan Union-Barnala), and Jagjeer Singh Seera (Block President, BKU Dakonda-Sehna).
In Ropar and Anandpur Sahib, the police detained Talwinder Singh Gagon (Vice President, BKU Qadian), Mohan Singh Dhmana (President, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, Ropar), Bir Singh Barwa (President, Kirti Kisan Morcha, Ropar), Gurnaib Singh Jaitewal (Jamhoori Kisan Sabha), Davinder Singh Nanangli (President, Kisan Sabha CPM, Ropar), along with nine others.
Additionally, in Patiala, five leaders from BKU Krantikari, BKU Lakhowal, and Satnam Behru group have also been detained.
“Massive raids are underway to scuttle our protests, and over a dozen buses are waiting to round me and my supporters up,” said Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president of BKU Ekta Ugrahan.
“Let the Punjab government do whatever it wants, but I warn them the protest will go ahead despite the police crackdown,” he added.
ਕਹਿਣੀ ਤੇ ਕੱਥਣੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਫਰਕ ਦੀ ਜਿਓਂਦੀ ਜਾਗਦੀ ਮਸਾਲ -:
ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਲਈ ਮੇਰੇ ਦਰਵਾਜ਼ੇ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹੇ ਹਨ - ਕਹਿਣੀ
ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਘਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਗਿ੍ਰਫਤਾਰ ਕਰੋ - ਕੱਥਣੀ
ਕੀ ਕਿਸਾਨ ਅੱਜ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੀ ਆਪਣੇ ਹੱਕਾਂ ਲਈ ਆਵਾਜ਼ ਬੁਲੰਦ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੇ ?@ANI @PTI_News
— Harmeet Singh Kadian (@HarmeetKadian) March 4, 2025
A senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the raids were conducted following the failure of talks between the Punjab Government and farmer unions on Monday.
“We have mobilised forces, and efforts are ongoing to arrest farmer leaders,” said the officer.
Farmer union leaders had anticipated such a move from the government ahead of the protests.
“Most of us were not home early in the morning when hundreds of cops arrived to arrest us. While some members were detained, many leaders were not present during the raids,” a union leader stated.
On Monday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reportedly walked out of a meeting with Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders. The meeting, called by the Punjab Government, aimed to resolve issues with farmers’ unions affiliated with SKM and persuade them to cancel their scheduled protest on March 5.
ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਹੰਕਾਰੀ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਕਿਸਾਨ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਦੇ ਘਰਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਛਾਪੇਮਾਰੀ ਦੀ ਮੈਂ ਸਖ਼ਤ ਨਿਖੇਦੀ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ , ਆਪ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਅਜਿਹੀ ਘਟੀਆ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਕਰਕੇ ਲੋਕਤੰਤਰ ਦਾ ਗਲਾ ਘੁੱਟ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।
ਬੀਤੀ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਕਿਸਾਨ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਦੁਰਵਿਵਹਾਰ ਦੀ ਮੁਆਫੀ ਮੰਗਣ ਦੀ ਬਜਾਏ ਭਗਵੰਤ ਮਾਨ ਨੇ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਗ੍ਰਿਫਤਾਰ ਕਰਨਾ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ।… pic.twitter.com/dyFHduSzGg
— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) March 4, 2025
However, SKM leaders alleged that the Chief Minister did not listen to their demands and instead asked them to call off the protest.
Another SKM leader mentioned that they had only presented eight of their 18 demands when the Chief Minister intervened and left the meeting.
ਭਗਵੰਤ ਮਾਨ ਦੀ ਅਗਵਾਈ ਵਾਲੀ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਐਮਰਜੈਂਸੀ ਵਰਗੇ ਹਾਲਾਤ ਬਣਾ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਹਨ। ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧਤ ਮੁੱਦਿਆਂ ' ਨੂੰ ਲੈਕੇ ਬੇਨਕਾਬ ਹੋਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਹੁਣ ਇਹ ਕਿਸਾਨ ਲੀਡਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਾਨ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਮਹਿਕਮੇ ਦਾ ਸਹਾਰਾ ਲੈ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ਜਿਵੇਂ ਕਿ ਅਸੀਂ ਵਾਰ-ਵਾਰ ਕਿਹਾ ਹੈ, ਕਿ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨੇ ਸੂਬੇ ਨੂੰ ਪੁਲਿਸ…
— Ravneet Singh Bittu (@RavneetBittu) March 4, 2025
No senior officer was willing to officially confirm any arrests until the filing of the report. However, BKU (Krantikari) leaders claimed police raids on the homes of their leaders, including Balwant Mehraj, Ashok Bharti, Jarnail Kaleka, and Gurjeet Singh, who have reportedly been detained.
Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher also criticized the police crackdown, calling it an attack on freedom in a democracy.
“Farmers want to protest peacefully, but the Punjab government is using the police to silence us. We will oppose any efforts to suppress our voices,” he said.
CM Sahib, Punjab’s farmers are not your opponents—they are the backbone of our economy, small traders, and entire agrarian system. When farmers prosper, Punjab thrives—our markets flourish, small shopkeepers earn, and every household benefits.
Yet, for over a year, they have…
— Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (@RajaBrar_INC) March 4, 2025
Pandher also expressed his dissatisfaction with the government's inability to address the growing drug crisis in Punjab, citing the increasing number of young lives lost to addiction.
According to some farm union leaders, former BKU (Krantikari) block president Jagtar Singh has allegedly been detained, with heavy police presence in many villages since early morning.
