The Punjab Police detained farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher in Mohali as tensions escalated between security personnel and a group of farmers.
Clashes erupted as the farmers attempted to march towards the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, where protests over agricultural reforms have been ongoing since February last year.
In addition to Dallewal and Pandher, 200 farmers were detained at the Khanauri border, with reports indicating that another 300 would be detained at the Shambhu border shortly.
Following the confrontation, authorities suspended internet services at the Khanauri border and in parts of Sangrur and Patiala districts. The move came as police reinforcements were deployed to prevent further escalation.
The detained farmers had been marching from Mohali to the protest sites after holding discussions with a central government delegation in Chandigarh. Police personnel, who had set up barricades, attempted to halt their progress, leading to a physical confrontation.
Other farmer leaders, including Abhimanyu Kohar and Kaka Singh Kotda, were also detained. Jagjit Singh Dallewal, one of the key figures in the ongoing protests, had previously undertaken a 54-day hunger strike before agreeing to medical assistance in January.
His protest was primarily aimed at securing a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) on 24 crops, one of the key demands of the protesting farmers.
The farmers have been demanding more than just a legal assurance on MSP. Their list of demands includes a complete waiver of farm debts, pensions for farmers and agricultural workers, a halt to rising electricity tariffs, withdrawal of police cases filed against protesting farmers, justice for victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence in Uttar Pradesh, the reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation for the families of farmers who died during the 2020-21 protests.
At the Shambhu border, police reportedly dismantled some of the protest infrastructure, including removing fans from a temporary stage where the farmers had been staging their demonstrations.
There has been speculation that the authorities may attempt to completely clear the site, given the presence of over 1,000 police personnel, 25 ambulances, and 50 buses in the vicinity of Bapror village, just a few kilometres from Shambhu.
Meanwhile, around 500 farmers are said to be stationed at the Khanauri border morcha.
To monitor the situation, two assistant inspector generals (AIGs) and four superintendents of police (SPs), along with multiple inspectors, have been deployed at Shambhu.
Despite the heightened security, the farmers remain determined to continue their protest. They have accused the Punjab government of siding with certain vested interests to weaken their movement.
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has strongly criticised the actions taken by both the central BJP-led government and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state.
He accused them of betraying the farmers and questioned why the Punjab Police was detaining leaders while negotiations were still underway.
Warring also speculated that the crackdown could be an attempt to divert attention from the recent Patiala incident, in which 12 Punjab Police officers were accused of manhandling a serving army colonel, sparking public outrage.
Punjab Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, who oversees the Industry Ministry, defended the government’s stance, stating that prolonged highway blockades had caused significant economic losses to the state.
He emphasised that while the government supported farmers, disruptions to highways were damaging businesses and employment.
Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Bittu, however, condemned the police action against farmers, echoing concerns raised by opposition leaders.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi accused the AAP government of giving in to pressure from the BJP-led central government and taking action against farmers to appease Delhi.
Seventh Round of Talks Concludes Without Resolution
Amid the renewed protests, the seventh round of discussions between farmer leaders and a delegation from the central government took place. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, after the meeting, announced that the next round of talks would be held on May 4.
"A positive discussion took place in a cordial atmosphere. The talks will continue. The next meeting will take place on May 4," Chouhan stated.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Punjab's Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian were also present.
Earlier, discussions between the farmers and central representatives had taken place on February 22 in Chandigarh but had remained inconclusive. The latest round of talks follows several unsuccessful negotiations in February last year when the farmers initially launched their agitation.
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