Haryana braces for blockade

KARNAL: District-level authorities in Haryana have made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth movement of traffic in view of the Indian National Lok Dal’s (INLD) threat to block vehicles coming from Punjab to Haryana on Monday to protest against the delay in construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.

The state government had on Friday requisitioned 10 companies of paramilitary forces to deal with the situation.

INLD leaders said that they will block five points on national highways connecting Haryana and Punjab in Ambala, Jind and Sirsa districts, which may lead to heavy traffic diversion to raods passing through Kurukshetra and Kaithal districts.

“As of now, there is no plan to block traffic in Kaithal and Kurukshetra districts as we have decided to block 5 entry points on the national highways in the state,” INLD state president Ashok Arora said.

“We will block the vehicles coming from Punjab side from 10 am to 3 pm, whereas vehicles going from Haryana to Punjab will not be stopped.”

Haryana home secretary Ram Niwas had said paramilitary forces would be deployed after examining the situation at various locations. The police will monitor the situation in Kaithal and Kurukshetra to ensure smooth traffic movement.

“There is no need for paramilitary forces in Kurukshetra. The district police will be deputed to monitor the traffic,” Kurukshetra additional deputy commissioner Dharamvir Singh said.

Sources said the focus of INLD protesters will be on NH-1 and 22. Both are the busiest highways passing through the two states.

Karnal superintendent of police (SP) Jashandeep Randhawa said, “We have made enough arrangements to ensure traffic movement on NH-1 and other link roads of the district and nobody will be allowed to take law into their hands.”

Haryana ADGP RC Mishra, SP Abhishek Jorwal and senior civil officers reportedly visited Shambhu border on NH-1 and Sadopur border on AmbalaChandigarh highway to oversee the arrangements. Mishra said two companies of Haryana Armed Police and another two of paramilitary forces have been deployed at these places, besides the Rapid Action Force at the these points.

STATE GOVT ON FRIDAY REQUISITIONED 10 PARAMILITARY FORCES’ COMPANIES; INLD SAYS IT WILL BLOCK 5 POINTS ON NHs CONNECTING HARYANA AND PUNJAB