*Farmers march to Delhi- Business of value worth over Rs 1000 crore suffered
SATISH HANDA
Ambala : During the year 2020-21 farmers protest loss worth Rs 3500 crore was estimated. Haryana DGP Shatrujit Kapoor had assured residents of Haryana tight security measures adopted by the police in which 50 units of para-military forces were deployed. He said that in case need arises state police will seek army help to control violence by Punjab farmers on their way to Delhi. Information reveals that a large number of tractor trolleys carrying sufficient stocks of food grains and in-side bed room reached at Shambhu on Haryana-Punjab border near Ambala City attempting to cross the border on way to Delhi. According to eyewitnesses, Haryana police tried their best to stop entry of vehicles towards Haryana on the National Highway but Punjab police was seen taking no action to stop these vehicles when countless tractor trolleys were seen assembled at the border on Punjab side. Information reveals that Haryana Police tried to detain protestors at the Shambhu border after they pelted stones, damaged a bridge and forcibly tried to remove barricades.
Police authorities on Wednesday fired tear gas at the protesting farmers on the Punjab-Haryana border who resumed their march toward Delhi after declaring a ceasefire. Thousands of tractors lined up at the border despite huge security deployment, concrete barricading and digging up roads. Police personnel resorted to firing tear gas at the protestors to prevent them from approaching the police barricades. During the night, the farmer unions decided to pause the protests for the night after over 60 people, including farmers, police personnel (including two officers of DSP rank) and journalists were injured as the police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protestors at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border. Police claimed that 24 personnel were injured during the clashes when trying to ramp up security measures at the border areas to deter farmers from entering the national capital. Barricades and barbed wires were reinforced after protestors tried to break through the security cordon at the border by removing cement blocks. Haryana Police also detained protestors at the Shambhu border after they pelted stones, damaged a bridge and forcibly tried to remove barricades.
According to information, traffic movement was impacted in Delhi due to multiple layers of barricading and border checks. Traffic blockades were reported near Ghazipur, Singhu, and Chilla borders. The poor traffic situation continued on Wednesday too with movement restricted to two lanes. Information reveals, more than 1 km long traffic jam was seen on the Delhi-Meerut highway. as well as the traffic jams at various highways to Delhi. Meanwhile, the Haryana government also extended the ban on mobile internet services, bulk SMS and dongle services in seven districts of Haryana till February 15 midnight. Earlier, the mobile services were suspended in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa till February 13 midnight.
