\200 farmers have been detained at Khanauri border, while about 300 farmers are present at Shambhu border, who can be detained soon. After the clash between farmers and police, internet services have been suspended in Khanauri border and surrounding Sangrur and Patiala districts. Apart from this, internet services have been suspended in many areas of Punjab.
Punjab Police on Wednesday detained farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher in Mohali. During this, a clash broke out between farmers and security forces when farmers were trying to march towards Khanauri and Shambhu border points. Farmers have been protesting at both these places since February 13, 2023. According to the information, about 3000 police personnel have been deployed at both Shambhu and Khanauri.
The administration is preparing to remove the farmers protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders over various demands, including a march to Delhi and the implementation of the MSP Guarantee Act. This claim has been made by leaders of the agitating farmer organizations.
A meeting was held between the farmers and the central government in Chandigarh, attended by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Consumer Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi, and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
On the farmers' side, leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Abhimanyu Kohad, Kaka Singh Kotra, and Manjit Singh Rai participated in the meeting. Although no decision was reached during this discussion, as the farmer leaders were heading back to the protest site, they were taken into custody by the police.
Punjab Police may remove the protesters: Mangat
Farmer leader Gurmanet Singh Mangat claimed that the Punjab Police may remove the protesters from the two agitation sites (Shambhu and Khanauri) on the Punjab-Haryana border. Earlier in the day, a new round of discussions between farmer leaders and the central delegation in Chandigarh did not yield any results.
Reports indicate that clashes broke out between police and farmers at the Mohali-Chandigarh border (Airport Road), where security forces are deployed. In a precautionary measure, police attempted to disperse the protesters, resulting in a tense atmosphere. Internet services have been suspended in Shambhu and Khanauri.
Discussions will continue: Shivraj
Following the meeting, Union ministers emphasized that farmer interests are paramount. Shivraj Singh Chouhan described the meeting as positive and stated that discussions would continue, with the next meeting scheduled for May 4.
Farmer leader Mangat said that besides Pandher and Dallewal, Abhimanyu Kohar, Kaka Singh Kotra, and Manjit Singh Rai have been detained. Reports also indicate that a heavy police presence has been established at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points, where the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been protesting since February of last year. Ambulances, buses, and fire tenders have been positioned near the protest sites, according to the farmers.
Prakash Kumar Pandey
No comments:
Post a Comment