Farmers’ gherao Delhi plan puts Hry on edge
Call given by Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh; six farmers union to participate in the agitation
CHANDIGARH/KARNAL/HISAR: Tension prevailed in different parts of the state on Thursday as police detained several villagers from their native villages in a bid to stop them from moving towards the national capital as a part of the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh’s ‘Delhi-Gherao’ call.
The state’s farmers had planned to gather at Kheri Chopta in Hisar and Ganaur in Sonepat, from where they would proceed towards Delhi for their protest slated for February 23. The police, however, stopped the farmers’ convoy midway and detained several of them.
PUNJAB FARMERS HIT NH-1 WITHOUT HURDLE
Initially, farmers from Punjab managed to reach national highway (NH-1) as the police did not stop them, fearing that they would block the highway. Later, the Kurukshetra police blocked their entry in Pehowa of Kurukshetra district. But in the evening, farmers were again seen travelling in tractor-trailers on the NH-1.
“We stopped the movement of farmers from Punjab at the border in Pehowa and over 100 farmers were detained in Kuruksheta district by the police,” Kurukshetra SP Abhishek Garg said.
Agitated farmers blocked the link roads and the busy Yamunanagar-Kurukshetra and Karnal road at Radaur soon after the police stopped them from joining other farmers at Pipli of Kurukshetra district.
“Police detained several farmers from my house early Thursday morning,” Sewa Singh Arya, a farmer leader of Yamunanagar said.
In Yamunanagar’s Radaur area, police had to use force to disperse farmers, who had blocked Yamunanagar-Kurukshetra and Karnal highway.
In Hisar, farmers blocked the Jind-Hisar and Barwala road after police detained their leader Suresh Koth.
A police sources said that the police have booked about 300 unidentified persons for blocking road and disturbing traffic. Additionally, two companies of police force have been called in Hisar to maintain law and order condition.
Meanwhile, several shopkeepers downed their shutters early as a precautionary measure.
On February 18, the day All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) observed Balidan Diwas, Kisan Sangharsh Samiti had announced that about 2,000 tractor-trailers from different area of Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab will be assemble at Ganaur in Sonepat and Mayyar and Kheri Chopta village in Hisar on February 22, from where the farmers will start their “Delhi gherao” march.
The farmers’ protest is aimed at pressing for their demands of implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report and crop loan waiver.
“We are holding peaceful protest. We will reach Delhi at any cost,” Krishan Swaroop Gorakhpuria, a farmer leader, said. Hisar deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Mohammad Jamal, said police will not allow anyone to block movement of traffic.
Meanwhile, the protesting farmers in Rohtak, Jhajjar and Jind said they will choke NH-10 on Friday with tractor trailers.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union wing of Rohtak said farmers in large number will pitch tents at the spot wherever they are forced to stop.
Rohtak SP Pankaj Nain said all police stations in the district were instructed to ensure no traffic blockade happens at any place and all routes remain open
for commuters.
He said besides additional police force, a few companies of the paramilitary have also been deployed to maintain law and order.
It is learnt that police has not been able to arrest Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni, who is leading this agitation of six farmers unions from Haryana and was planning to take farmers to Delhi.
POLICE ON ALERT
Haryana director general of police (DGP) BS Sandhu appealed to the farmers not to violate law and order. He asked farmers not to carry any stick or weapon.
The state government has deployed 25 companies of Central Armed Police Forces, apart from additional police force in all districts.
“Adequate arrangements of traffic police will be made along
all routes to ensure smooth movement of vehicles,” the DGP said.
The DGPs of neighbouring states were also requested to direct their officers to ensure that farmers from those states do not carry weapons and cooperate with the police in maintaining law and order.
“If anyone is found violating law and order, strict action will be initiated,” the DGP said.