New Delhi: The Delhi Police used tear gas shells Friday to disperse a group of farmers who had reached the Singhu border as part of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march to protest against the Centre’s new farm laws, a senior police officer said. The shells were fired at the border point which connects Delhi with Haryana.
“We are using tear gas to disperse protesting farmers. We are also informing them that in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, any kind of rally and dharna is not allowed,” a senior police officer said. “They have been denied permission and legal action will be taken against them if they still try to enter Delhi,” the officer further said.
Security has been strengthened at the border and sand-laden trucks and water cannons have been stationed. Barbed wire is also being used for fencing at the Singhu border to prevent the protesters from entering the city.
Punjab farmers, representing over 30 farm bodies, have announced they will go to Delhi through several routes – Lalru, Shambhu, Patiala-Pehowa, Patran-Khanauri, Moonak-Tohana, Ratia-Fatehabad and Talwandi-Sirsa. Tension was escalating at all the border points.
Farmers have assembled near the borders in tractor-trolleys laden with rations and essentials for their proposed Delhi march. Authorities in Haryana have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in several parts of the state to prevent assembly of the protesters.
Farmers’ bodies said they will hold a dharna wherever they are stopped from moving towards the national capital.
Punjab farmers are demanding the repeal of the new farm laws, which, they said, should be replaced with another set of legislations framed after wider consultation with the stakeholders. They also want a guarantee on the minimum support prices.
Meanwhile the Delhi Police have sought permission from the AAP government to use the city’s nine stadiums as temporary jails due to the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, government sources said Friday.
“In view of the farmers’ march, the Delhi Police have asked the Delhi government for permission to use nine stadiums as temporary jails to keep the detained or arrested farmers,” a source said.
