In a post on X, Haryana police said that “ruckus” cannot be allowed under the guise of farmers’ movement.
Chandigarh: Amid the all-India ‘Bandh’ call by farmer leaders in demand of MSP legalisation and other things, the Haryana Police released a series of video clips of several farmers today. The videos show the protesting farmers pelting stones and purportedly attempting to provoke the security personnel at the Shambhu border near Ambala, as per a report by news agency PTI.
In its post on X, the police asserted that “ruckus” cannot be allowed under the guise of farmers’ movement.
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किसान आंदोलन की आड़ में उपद्रव फैलाने की अनुमति नहीं दी जा सकती, प्रदर्शनकारी कानून व्यवस्था बाधित न करें और शांतिपूर्वक प्रदर्शन करें। @anilvijminister@cmohry@ssk303 pic.twitter.com/hc8g60Tioe
— Haryana Police (@police_haryana) February 16, 2024
Meanwhile, the farmer leaders spearheading the ‘Delhi Chalo’ call claimed that the Haryana security personnel used “force” against protesters by hurling tear gas shells and firing rubber bullets at them, leaving many injured.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have given a ‘Delhi Chalo’ call to press the BJP-led central government to accept their demands of minimum support price, among others.
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पंजाब की सीमा से लगते शंभू बॉर्डर पर शांतिपूर्वक प्रदर्शन करने के आश्वासन के बावजूद प्रदर्शनकारियो द्वारा पुलिसकर्मियों को उकसाने के लगातार किए जा रहे प्रयास। हरियाणा पुलिस की अपील-कानून व्यवस्था बनाए रखने में सहयोग करें। @ssk303@cmohry@anilvijminister pic.twitter.com/S7mqKRtk8C
— Haryana Police (@police_haryana) February 16, 2024
Farmers from Punjab began their march to the national capital on Tuesday but were stopped by security personnel at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana. On Tuesday, farmers mainly from Punjab clashed with Haryana Police at the two border points and were faced with tear gas and water cannons as they tried to breakthrough the barricades.
The Haryana Police on Friday also fired tear gas shells to disperse protesting farmers, a day after talks between Union ministers and farmer leaders remained inconclusive.
In one of the videos shared by the Haryana Police on X, many young protesters with faces covered could be seen hurling stones at the security personnel at the Shambhu border.
Video Shows Protesting Farmers Collecting Stones
In another video, protesting farmers could be seen collecting stones to throw at the security personnel. Police said 25 security personnel—18 Haryana Police and seven paramilitary force jawans—were injured in these clashes.
“Under the guise of farmers’ movement, miscreants are creating disorder at the Shambhu barrier,” police said in a post. They also said that despite assurances of a peaceful protest at the Shambhu border, continuous efforts are being made by protesters to provoke policemen.
In one of the videos, a youth, one of the protesters, could be seen brandishing a sword while sitting atop a cemented barricade. Some of the protesters could be seen carrying sticks and one of them could be seen challenging the policemen with a thigh slap, a customary style of challenge for a duel.
“Even today, the protesters created a ruckus and repeatedly tried to provoke the Haryana Police,” said one of the posts.
“Ruckus cannot be allowed to spread under the guise of farmers’ movement. Protesters should not disturb law and order and hold peaceful protesters,” said police. In their turn, during the third round of meeting with a panel of Union ministers Thursday night, the farmer leaders raised the issue of force being used by police and paramilitary against the protesters.
(With inputs from agencies)