The situation at the Ghazipur border eased out after midnight as the security forces were withdrawn from here.
However, the reason behind the withdrawal of security forces is still not known but the security personnel said that they have been asked to go back as they were on duty since morning.
The situation was tense at the Ghazipur border after the tractor rally organised by the farmers' unions on Republic Day turned violent in the national capital.
Tension, apprehension loom over Singhu following violence
The Delhi Police have turned the Singhu border, where scores of farmers are protesting against the three contentious farm laws for over two months now, into an island.
The protest site has been barricaded and blocked for entry and exit from all the sides.
The 2 km road which starts at a U-turn for the Singhu border and leads to the protest site is barred from the entry of any vehicle other than those belonging to the security personnel. One has to cover the distance on foot to reach the protest site.
The whole road is flooded with personnel of Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force, geared with anti-riot equipment in anticipation of any fresh spurt of violence.
One has to cross as many as eight security checkpoints created on the road to reach the protest site. Each point is guarded by more than 50 security personnel.
At every point, the personnel would ask the purpose of visit and proof of identity before allowing people to go to the next check-post where the entire process will be repeated.
The police officials said that heavy security was deployed after Republic Day incident when a group of farmers went rogue and clashed with the police at many points in Delhi.
The last checkpoint was swarmed by media professionals. After inquiring, it became clear that the police have not allowed the press to go inside the protest site. "We have been ordered to not let anyone enter from here," a police officer said. However, he did not tell who had issued the order.
Even after repeated attempts and requests, several heated arguments ensued between the media and the police, but the officials stuck to their stand and the journalists were told to turn back.
Fortunately, this reporter found a way to the inside of the protest site.
The scenes at the site were quite but tensed. Suspicion for unknown faces was visible at the faces of the farmers camping in their trolleys on the Singhu border, which has been home to them for more than 60 days now.
However, they said that their spirits are still high. "No doubt the unfortunate incidents of violence have impacted the farmers' morale, but to boost that, our brothers are coming from Punjab and Haryana," said Nakhdeep Bhindra, a young farmer from Punjab.
Meanwhile, apprehensive gaze of the farmers followed this reporter wherever he went. Many declined the request to speak while a few agreed with scepticism. Interestingly, every conversation with the farmers were video recorded by them.
"While everything is routinely normal here, we have become extra cautious after Friday's violence," said Sukhdeep Singh, a protester.
On Friday, violence erupted at the Singhu protest site after over 500 persons claiming to be locals pelted a farmers' camp with stones, leading to a clash between them and the agitating farmers.
Many farmers were found discontent with the coverage of the events that unfolded on Friday and on January 26. They alleged that the media has been showing only one side of the violence. "Even our people were injured in the violence on Republic Day and on Friday. But all the sympathy was directed towards the police," said Manu Chautala, a farmer from Haryana.
The farmers are also wary of the coverage by specific media groups which is continuously portraying the protest in a bad light. "Are you Godi media," asked every person this reporter tried to speak to.
Some even attempted to Google the name and organisation of this reporter but the mobile showed no internet connectivity as net services have been temporarily suspended till January 31 in the area after orders from the Union Home Ministry.
"The mainstream media has been calling us traitors, terrorists and Khalistanis. Which terrorist protests peacefully," asked Joginder Bhatti, an elderly protester from Punjab.
RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary joins Gazipur farmers' protest
High voltage drama continued to unfold on Friday at New Delhi's Ghazipur border as the situation there remained tense after the farmer leaders were asked to vacate the border.Opposition Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) Vice-President Jayant Chaudhary arrived at the border to lend his support to the protesting farmers.
Chaudhary said, "My family (referring to farmers) is here, my family is in crisis today. I have come here as a citizen and have arrived here to support the farmers."
"Our party is also the party of farmers, I want the farmers of the country to stand up. The Central government is trying to suppress the protest by using force. My strategy at the moment will be the same as will be decided by the farmers sitting."
"Ever since Yogiji came to power in Uttar Pradesh, the state has continuously imposed Article 144. In a democracy, there is freedom of expression, the people have the right, there is also the freedom to protest, you cannot remove them nor can they be deprived of that freedom."
"The farmers are being insulted on a daily basis, their grievances should have been easily sorted out, the farmers do not want to sit here any longer," the RLD leader said.
"Opposition in their own way is expressing their protest against the Central government in support of the farmers. Some are doing that inside Parliament and some outside it. The government should think that they have got a five-year mandate only and not forever."
Meanwhile, more farmers are coming to the border in support.
The protests have been going on at the Delhi borders over the Central farm laws.
The last, which was the 11th round of talks between the Central government and farmers' unions had remained inconclusive.
Since the violence on Republic Day, the pressure on the farmers was mounting. But since Friday morning, they have again started coming to the border.
Tikait's tears swell up farmers at Ghazipur again
Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait's emotional speech with tears rolling down his face has turned the tables with more farmers thronging to the Ghazipur border after abandoning the space a day before.
After the January 26 violence, police personnel were deployed in large numbers at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders following which the farmers started returning to their villages.
While the number of farmers was seemingly less on Thursday, it once again began swelling on Friday.
The farmers are now saying that their leader (Tikait) ended up in tears due to the government and they will not let the movement end till their last breath.
On Thursday, the Ghaziabad administration had asked Tikait to vacate the protest site. However, sensing "conspiracy", he right from the stage in a speech said that a "big conspiracy" was underway against the farmers.
After the crying Tikait's video went viral, farmers' started returning to the site and the Ghaziabad authorities, who were present there till late Thursday night, were forced to back down.
On Friday, a lesser number of police personnel were seen while more farmers were present.
Situation normal at Ghazipur border as security forces withdrawn after midnight
The situation at the Ghazipur border eased out after midnight as the security forces were withdrawn from here.
However, the reason behind the withdrawal of security forces is still not known but the security personnel said that they have been asked to go back as they were on duty since morning.
The situation was tense at the Ghazipur border after the tractor rally organised by the farmers' unions on Republic Day turned violent in the national capital.
All the senior police officials left the spot at around 1.30 a.m.
The farmers have also started returning back to the protest spot and showing solidarity with Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait.
Delhi Police clears Burari ground of farmers
The DDA ground in Burari in the outskirts of the national capital has been cleared of protesters who have been camping there since November-end, Delhi Police said on Thursday.
The police said that 30 farmers have moved to the Singhu border and 15 others have been detained for their possible involvement in violence by protesters on January 26.
The Burari ground was earlier given to the farmers for protest but the majority of farmers assembled at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders leaving very few protesters there.
The development follows mounting tension between police and protesters at these three borders.
