‘Dilli Chalo’: Face-off between police and farmers leads to chaos on Punjab-Haryana borders

Sushil Goyal

Sangrur, February 13

Tear gas shells and water cannons were fired by the police from Haryana side on the agitating farmers from Punjab at the Khanauri border today to prevent them from entering Haryana. The farmers are adamant to go to Delhi as part of their ‘Dilli Chalo’ agitation to compel the Central Government to implement their already accepted demands. Owing to this, tension has gripped the area.

Internet services remain suspended

Sharp drop in diesel, gas supply to state

New Delhi: There was a sharp drop in the quantum of diesel and gas transported to Punjab on Tuesday with government sources saying 50% less diesel and 20% less gas was supplied than normal days. “This leaves the state with 50% diesel and 80% gas availability. The drop in the volumes was on account of technical and safety challenges posed by the ongoing farm protests and heavy barricading along all major routes to Punjab,” official sources added, flagging possibilities of supply crunch of diesel and gas in the coming days if the protest continue.

Internet services have not been functioning in Khanauri and nearby areas from Monday night due to which even the mediapersons have been facing problems in sending their news reports and photographs to their respective offices, etc.

Thousands of farmers with tractors had reached the Khanauri border by this evening. However, they have reportedly decided to camp at the Khanauri border in a peaceful manner throughout the night. The leaders of the agitating farmers have also appealed to the youths not to indulge in any type of hooliganism and remain peaceful. They also said that they would go to Delhi at any cost.

At the Khanauri border, vehicles, especially tractors and trailers, were queued up for more than one-and-a-half kilometer on Punjab side as hundreds of tractors reached here this afternoon from Mehlan village, situated near the Sangrur-Patran road. These tractors had reached Mehlan village from various parts of the state yesterday and today.

Meanwhile, all through the day whenever farmers tried to break the concrete barricades at the border, put up by the Haryana Police, the latter fired tear gas shells on them with drones and guns. The police even used water cannons several times to prevent the farmers from heading towards Haryana.

Ran Singh Chatha, Sangrur district general secretary of the BKU (Sidhupur), said a large number of tear gas shells were being fired by the police on the farmers due to which many had severe irritation in their eyes. He said they would not succumb to the pressure being mounted on them by the police.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.

#Dilli Chalo Farmers Protest #Farmers Protest #Sangrur