Farmers from Punjab are gearing up for a renewed effort to breach multiple layers of barricades at the Haryana border, aiming to march towards Delhi and press for their various demands. At the Shambhu border near Ambala, security personnel reportedly fired tear gas shells on Wednesday morning as the farmers gathered for their 'Dilli Chalo' protest.
The farmers, who clashed with Haryana Police at border points on Tuesday, encountered tear gas and water cannons while attempting to break barricades obstructing their march to the national capital. After a prolonged face-off with the police, farmer leaders decided to suspend the protest for the day, with plans to resume the march from Shambhu on Wednesday.
The 'Delhi Chalo' agitation, led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, aims to exert pressure on the Centre for various demands, including a law on minimum support price for crops and loan waivers.
During a previous protest at the Shambhu border on February 13, farmers, using tractors, managed to dismantle some cemented barricades and iron nails set up by Haryana authorities to hinder their progress towards Delhi. The confrontation resulted in injuries to 24 police personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police, as protesters threw stones at them.
In response to the clashes, the Haryana government extended the suspension of mobile internet services, bulk SMS, and dongle services in seven districts until February 15. Meanwhile, the Punjab government has issued an alert in hospitals near the Haryana border, anticipating injuries from clashes between farmers and police at Shambhu and Khanauri borders. The ongoing protests reflect the intensity of the farmers' grievances and the challenges in finding a resolution with authorities.
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