Following the eviction of protesting farmers from the Shambhu and Khanauri border points, Haryana security personnel on Thursday began dismantling the heavy barricades that had been installed to block farmers from marching towards Delhi.
The process of removing these obstacles, which included cement blocks, iron nails, and barbed wire, aimed to restore normal road traffic along the Shambhu-Ambala and Sangrur-Jind highways, which had remained closed for over a year.
Road clearance operations underway
JCBs and other heavy machinery were deployed at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders to clear the roads. Punjab Police simultaneously conducted operations to remove the remaining makeshift structures and trolleys from their side of the border.
Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nanak Singh confirmed that all semi-permanent structures and protest materials were being cleared, and that the road at Shambhu would likely be reopened for traffic within the next 3-4 hours. Inspector General of Police (Ambala Range) Sibash Kabiraj stated that Haryana authorities were working in parallel to ensure full clearance by Thursday evening.
Farmers announce statewide protests
In response to the police crackdown, farmer organizations Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha announced plans for fresh demonstrations. They called for dharnas outside deputy commissioners’ offices across Punjab and other states to protest against the Punjab Police’s actions and the detention of farmer leaders.
Protests erupted in multiple districts, with farmers gathering in Gidderbaha (Muktsar) and Moga, where women demonstrators clashed with police while attempting to reach the deputy commissioner's office.
On Wednesday, Punjab Police detained several key farmer leaders, including Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal, in Mohali. Their detention followed their participation in a meeting with a central delegation in Chandigarh, led by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and attended by Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
The discussions focused on the farmers’ longstanding demand for a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
As the detained leaders returned to Mohali, they were met with heavy barricading and police intervention, leading to their arrest and subsequent transportation to an undisclosed location.
Punjab Government Defends Action
Amid growing criticism, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema defended the state government's actions, asserting that the prolonged blockade at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points had severely impacted Punjab’s economy and industrial growth.
“Punjab’s trade has suffered due to the closure of these highways for over a year. We stand with the farmers and support their demands, but blocking Punjab’s roads is not the solution. Their fight is against the Centre, and they should direct their protests accordingly,” Cheema stated.
He further emphasised that Punjab’s economic decline, from being a top contributor to India’s GDP in 2003 to its current 19th position, was partly due to industries avoiding the state.
Also read: Heavy deployment at Shambhu after farmers protest crackdown
Farmer leaders condemn crackdown
Several farmer leaders condemned the Punjab and Haryana governments for their handling of the situation. Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) leader Satnam Singh Pannu accused the state and central governments of orchestrating a “murder of democratic rights.”
“The farmers were peacefully protesting for their rights, but the government chose repression over dialogue. The Haryana government acted at the Centre’s behest by barricading roads and using force against our movement,” Pannu alleged. He warned that the actions of both the AAP-led Punjab government and the BJP-led Centre would have political consequences.
KMSC leader Sukhwinder Singh also criticised the government’s approach, stating, “Farmers never blocked the roads; it was the Centre that did. Even now, we want to march to Delhi because our demands need to be addressed by the central government.”
Intensification of farmer agitation
The protesting farmer groups vowed to escalate their agitation, with thousands of farmers, including women, expected to participate in the upcoming demonstrations. The protests are set to be staged across various locations to pressure the government into fulfilling their demands.
Meanwhile, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite fast since November 26 last year, was transferred to Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences in Jalandhar for medical attention before being moved to an undisclosed location.
The protests at Shambhu (Shambhu-Ambala) and Khanauri (Sangrur-Jind) border points began on February 13 last year when farmers attempted a ‘Delhi Chalo’ march but were halted by security forces. The movement, primarily led by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, aimed to push for a legal guarantee on MSP and other agricultural reforms.
With barricades now removed but fresh protests announced, tensions between the farmers and the authorities remain high, setting the stage for further confrontations in the coming days.
Also Read: Farmers 'under attack' in govt 'conspiracy': Channi
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