Chandigarh: The situation remains tense at the Khanauri and Shambhu borders of Haryana-Punjab. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for the past 20 days at the Khanauri border, is not prepared to end his protest. Meanwhile, farmers have attempted to march towards Delhi three times from the Shambhu border, but Haryana police have stopped them from proceeding.
On Sunday, Punjab’s DGP Gaurav Yadav and the Ministry of Home Affairs Director Mayank Mishra visited Dallewal to talk with him and check on his health. They took note of the farmers’ demands, stating they are following the Supreme Court’s orders. DGP Gaurav Yadav conveyed Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s message to Dallewal, expressing concern for his health and emphasizing that his life is invaluable.
Earlier, farmers attempted a third march to Delhi on Saturday, but they were thwarted by barricades set up by Haryana police. At the Shambhu border, the farmers faced tear gas and water cannons.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher alleged that police fired rubber bullets at the peacefully protesting farmers and used contaminated water from the Ghaggar River against them. Seventeen farmers were injured in the clash. During this incident, a farmer from Khanna, Jog Singh, ingested poison and was rushed to the hospital, where his condition is stable.
In response to the situation, farmers are planning a tractor march on December 16 and will block trains across Punjab on December 18 from 12 PM to 3 PM. Afterward, copies of a letter addressed to the President, written by Dallewal, will be submitted to administrative officials.
Haryana Police Response:
Haryana police reported that farmers attempted to dismantle cement barricades using ropes and an iron hook. Consequently, police were compelled to take action, deploying tear gas and water cannons against the farmers. The clash lasted for over an hour.
Injured Farmers:
Among those injured in the police action were Kuldeep Singh, Sukdev Singh, Shamser Singh, Mukhtiar Singh Khurana, Minha Singh Mangwal, Jagir Singh Fauji, Darshan Khokh Lahran, Parmjit Singh Hardaspura, Amanpreet Singh, Hazara Singh, Indrajeet Singh, Rajkumar Tanda, Sukhvinder Singh, Sadhu Singh, and Sukdev Singh. Pandher stated that some of the injured are in critical condition. Due to a lack of ambulances on the scene, private vehicles were used to transport the injured to the hospital.
Allegations of Expired Tear Gas:
Pandher accused the police of using expired tear gas canisters against the farmers, suggesting that this was done to hinder any future investigation by leaving no trace. He also alleged that the Haryana police deployed tear gas against farmers at the Shambhu border, as well as to those protesting in the fields along the Ghaggar River.