Amritsar: 18 entrances shut, cops deployed as farmers start protest
What's the story
Farmers in Punjab have launched an indefinite protest in Chandigarh from Wednesday. The protest involves a tractor march by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM).
In anticipation of this, the Chandigarh Police have sealed 18 entry points into the city and deployed around 2,000 police personnel.
This includes deploying all deputy superintendents of police and station house officers of seven areas at these points.
Traffic chaos
Traffic disruptions and police strategy amid protests
Sarwan Singh Pandher, a farmer leader, told ANI that they plan to burn effigies of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's government in several districts throughout the state.
Pandher also called for the release of farmers who were allegedly arrested by Punjab police.
However, they have been halted by authorities at checkpoints set up along state and national roadways.
The police have also made the Chandigarh border impassable, preventing the protesting farmers from entering the city for their scheduled week-long sit-in.
Preemptive action
Farmer leaders detained ahead of protest
On February 4, the Punjab Police raided the homes of several farmer leaders, detaining many ahead of the SKM demonstration.
This came after SKM and the Punjab government failed to reach a conclusion in talks.
Farmers alleged that Mann stormed out of the meeting in anger.
Mann had defended the police action, saying protests shouldn't disturb public life.
Border demonstrations
Ongoing border protests and detentions
Farmers have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders between Punjab and Haryana for over a year now. They are demanding a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Several farmer leaders have been detained during the protests, including Joginder Singh Ugrahan and Balbir Singh Rajewal.
In some areas, farmers resisted police action, with the SKM calling the detentions a "dictatorial move" by the Punjab government and vowing to continue their protest.
Political backlash
Opposition parties criticize government's actions
Opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), have also slammed the government's actions.
BJP leader Subhash Sharma termed the arrests an insult to farmers.
The SKM, a conglomerate of over 30 farmer bodies, has called for a week-long sit-in in Chandigarh beginning March 5.
Several SKM leaders were "detained" or placed under "house arrest" in early Tuesday morning "raids" at their homes by Punjab police ahead of their planned March 5 rally in Chandigarh.