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Farmers began leaving the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday after their leaders submitted a memorandum to the Haryana government. However, hundreds of farmers were still at the spot, sitting along the roadside and discussing their next move.

 

A senior Patiala police officer said farmer leaders had informed the authorities that the protesters would clear the highways within the next few hours.

 

Earlier in the day, the Shambhu border was closed as farmers from Punjab headed towards Delhi for a 'Mahapanchayat' at Kisan Ghat. The gathering was organised to protest the proposed India-US trade deal. The move led to traffic problems, while farmer groups accused the authorities of trying to prevent them from reaching the national capital.

 

Security was stepped up at the Shambhu border, with a large number of police personnel deployed in the area. Barricades and concrete blocks were placed on the bridge over the Ghaggar River. Farmer leaders alleged that the interstate border was shut without any advance notice, resulting in long traffic queues and trouble for commuters travelling on the National Highway and Chandigarh-Rajpura road.

 

Tejveer Singh, spokesperson for the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Shaheed Bhagat Singh), alleged that the Haryana government had stopped entry from the Punjab side and was not allowing vehicles to cross. He said the border was closed without informing people in advance, causing problems for commuters and preventing farmers from putting forward their demands.

 

Farmers from different parts of Punjab reached the border in the morning, carrying the flags of their respective organisations, as they prepared to travel to Delhi. A day-long 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' is being held at Kisan Ghat under the banner of the 'Desh Bachao Morcha'.

 

The farmers' convoy left Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib on Tuesday morning. Over 1,000 farmers had spent the previous night at the gurdwara's sarai. The group then travelled to Madhopur near Sirhind on the GT Road before moving towards the Shambhu border.

 

Also read: Punjab-Haryana border sealed to prevent farmers to reach Delhi