Punjab Police Detain Farmers, Dismantle Protest Camps At Shambhu Border
Several farmer leaders, including Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal, were detained in Mohali. This occurred as they returned from a meeting with a central delegation.
Meanwhile, Punjab Police cleared protest sites at Shambhu and Khanauri, which had been blocked for over a year. Temporary structures and vehicles were removed from these locations.
Farmer leader Guramneet Singh Mangat reported that the detentions happened while the leaders were en route to the Shambhu protest site. They had just concluded discussions in Chandigarh with a delegation led by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The BJP criticised this police action, accusing the AAP government of undermining talks.
Police Action and Political Reactions
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema defended the eviction, citing economic disruptions due to highway closures. He emphasised that industries and businesses suffered significantly. Cheema stated, “The AAP is committed to youths and generating employment. They will get jobs if the trade and industry functions smoothly.”
Signs of police action were evident early in the day with heavy deployment at protest sites. Farmers noted the presence of ambulances, buses, firefighting, and anti-riot vehicles nearby. Approximately 200 farmers were at Khanauri and 50 at Shambhu border points.
BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu condemned the detention of farmer leaders. He accused the AAP government of sabotaging talks between the Centre and farmers. Bittu contacted Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to request the removal of barricades by security personnel.
Protests and Demands
The protesting farmers, led by Samyukta Kisan Morcha Non-Political and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been stationed at Shambhu-Ambala and Khanauri Sangrur-Jind border points since February 13 last year. Their march to Delhi was halted by security forces. They demand a legal guarantee for MSP on crops.
In Chandigarh, talks between farmer leaders and a central delegation remained inconclusive after more than three hours. Agriculture Minister Chouhan remarked, “The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. The discussions took place in a positive and constructive manner. The talks will continue.”
Detentions and Police Justifications
As farmers left Chandigarh for Mohali, they encountered heavy barricading. Mangat stated that Abhimanyu Kohar, Kaka Singh Kotra, and Manjit Singh Rai were detained along with Pandher and Dallewal. Pandher was taken from Zirakpur barrier to Bahadurgarh Commando Police Training Centre in Patiala.
Dallewal was detained while in an ambulance; police reportedly took control of it after removing its driver. Some farmers protested this action, leading to scuffles with security personnel.
Cheema justified the eviction by stating that trade had suffered greatly due to prolonged road closures. He urged farmer leaders to focus their struggle against the central government while allowing Punjab to progress.
Police Deployment and Opposition Criticism
Around 3,000 police personnel led by DIG Patiala Range Mandeep Singh Sidhu were deployed at Khanauri border point for eviction operations. Similar actions occurred at Shambhu border point to clear roads.
Sukhchain Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner, announced on loudspeakers for protesters to vacate roads swiftly within 10 minutes. Protesters were later detained and transported in buses stationed at protest sites.
Opposition leaders criticised the AAP government for police actions against farmers. Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi called it an attack on the farming sector, while Partap Singh Bajwa condemned it as cowardly.
Continued Support for Farmers
Cheema reiterated Punjab government’s commitment to supporting farmers’ legitimate demands. He emphasised that AAP ministers actively present farmers’ concerns before the central government.
The police dismantled stages at Shambhu and Khanauri border points using JCB machines to remove structures set up by farmers. The saroop of Guru Granth Sahib was respectfully moved under Sikh code of conduct from Khanauri site.
Nanak Singh, Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police, assured that no force was used against farmers during evictions. He stated that those wishing to return home were facilitated accordingly.
