On Sunday afternoon, protesting farmers temporarily halted their foot march to Delhi following incidents of violence at the Shambhu border, where several farmers were injured due to tear gas shelling by Haryana security personnel.
The decision to suspend the march was made after at least eight farmers suffered injuries, one of whom was urgently transported to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh for medical attention.
Sarwan Singh Pandher, a prominent farmer leader, announced the suspension, stating that the march would resume only after discussions within their forums, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.
The clash occurred as the group of farmers, who had been camping at the Shambhu border since their first attempt to march to Delhi was thwarted in February, approached the barricades set up by security forces.
In an effort to disperse the farmers, Haryana police used tear gas shells, which forced the protesters, many of whom had covered their faces and were wearing protective eyewear, to retreat. The intense action by the police further escalated tensions between the two sides.
The foot march, led by a group of 101 farmers, was initially part of their ongoing protests demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and other agricultural reforms. However, the violence at the border led to a sudden halt.
Pandher clarified that the farmers would decide their next steps after convening a meeting of the farmer unions. He also expressed his frustration with the Haryana police, alleging that the actions of the police, including the use of rubber bullets and the deployment of water cannons, were unwarranted and brutal.
The situation at the Shambhu border was marked by heightened security, with paramilitary and Haryana police forces intensifying their operations against the farmers. Tear gas shells were fired on four separate occasions, and farmers were also subjected to pepper spray after attempting to dismantle the iron mesh fencing.
In addition to these tactics, the farmers were offered tea and biscuits by the police in a bid to placate the protesters. However, Sarwan Singh Pandher dismissed these gestures as mere "gimmicks", labelling the police actions as attempts to undermine their protest. According to him, the farmers remained resolute in their fight for justice, despite the heavy-handed approach of the authorities.
The protests also saw a rise in the involvement of younger farmers, with a relatively younger group of protesters joining the march. As the farmers continued their journey, tensions with the security personnel mounted.
The police requested the farmers to present the necessary permissions to continue with their march, which led to a heated argument between the two sides.
To shield themselves from the tear gas, many farmers were seen wearing face masks and eyegear. Despite the chaos, the protests were largely peaceful, with the farmers continuing to press their demands.
Meanwhile, security was increased at other key locations in Delhi, particularly at the Singhu border, as a precautionary measure in anticipation of the farmers’ march. Delhi Police were on high alert, and restrictions on traffic were imposed, especially in central areas of the capital.
Authorities also maintained a close watch on the Noida border, where another group of farmers from Uttar Pradesh had been protesting. As tensions continued to rise at the Shambhu border, authorities feared further disruptions and clashes.
Follow us
