High alert sounded in Punjab, Haryana

Chandigarh, Jan. 26: A state of “high alert” has been sounded in Punjab and Haryana as violent farmers’ protest rocked neighbouring Delhi during the farmers' tractor rally. The ministry of home affairs (MHA) has also ordered the deployment of additional troops in parts of the national capital to contain the unrest.

Mobile Internet services were suspended in three districts of Sonipat, Jhajjar and Palwal until 5 pm Wednesday.

In the wake of the events which unfolded in the national capital, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar held a special meeting of his Cabinet and appealed to all farmers to return to their homes.

The need of the hour is to together defeat the designs of antisocial elements, said Mr Khattar.

He also chaired a high level meeting with senior officials including Chief Secretary Vijai Vardhan, home secretary Rajeev Arora and director-general of police Manoj Yadava here in the evening to take stock of the situation.

The DGP said a high alert has been sounded in the state in view of the violent incidents in several areas during the farmers’ tractor parade in Delhi. He directed all district police chiefs to be extremely vigilant.

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh said the violence during the farmers' tractor parade against the new agriculture laws in Delhi is unacceptable even as he ordered a high alert in his state.

The chief minister condemned the incidents that took place at the historic Red Fort and urged the farmers to immediately vacate the national capital and return to the borders, where they had been protesting peacefully for the past two months.

Mr Singh ordered a high alert in Punjab amid the tension and violence in Delhi, and directed director-general of police Dinkar Gupta to ensure that law and order in the state is not deteriorated at any cost.

Expressing grave concern over the situation unfolding in the national capital, the Punjab chief minister said the violence was apparently triggered by some people who violated the rules laid down for the tractor march through mutual agreement between the Delhi Police and the farmer unions.

It was unfortunate that these elements disturbed the peaceful agitation of the farmers, he said in a statement issued here.

The Punjab chief minister also condemned the incidents that took place at the Red Fort and other places in the national capital.