Ahead of the proposed farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo March’ on February 13, the Delhi Police has banned large gatherings in the north east district in the national Capital and tight security is being maintained on all borders of Delhi. To prevent farmers from Haryana and Punjab from reaching the Delhi border, the Delhi Police has started preparations, and large cranes and containers have been placed at the borders. If farmers attempt to enter the Delhi border by crossing Haryana and Punjab in any way, the border will be sealed with cranes and containers. The police conducting exercises to practice firing tear gas shells in case farmers refuse to cease their activities to prevent a repeat of the January 26, 2021 incident, in which protesting farmers clashed with cops on the Capital’s streets.
There are reports that at least 20,000 farmers with 2,000 tractors are set to enter Delhi day after tomorrow. These farmers are from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka. Intelligence agencies fear ant-social elements can enter the agitation and disrupt law and order.
“Information has been received that some farmer organisations have given a call to their supporters to gather/march to Delhi on 13th February for their demands of the law on MSP and others. They are likely to sit at the border of Delhi till their demands are met. In order to avoid any untoward incident and to maintain Law & Order, a precautionary Order of section 144 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, is required to be issued to save the lives and property in the area”, Delhi Police said.
A large number of farmers from Haryana and Punjab , Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are expected to march towards the national capital on Tuesday under their Delhi Chalo March organised by around 200 farmer unions.
Cranes have been deployed to move these barriers if farmers try to cross into Delhi. Delhi Police have anticipated that some farmers may use other public transport available, in order to hoodwink, the Delhi Police. According to Delhi Police intelligence estimate, some farmers may also come beforehand and gather outside the homes of VIPs such as the Prime Minister, ministers and BJP leaders.
“We have imposed Section 144 of the CrPC (prohibitory orders). Information has been received that some farmer organisations have given call to their supporters to gather/march to Delhi on February 13 for their demands of law on MSP. No one will be allowed to breach law and order situation,” according to an order issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) Joy Tirkey. The order said the farmers are likely to sit Delhi borders till their demands are met.
“Keeping in view the kind of behaviour and adamant approach farmers showed during protests in the past, there is a possibility of mobilisation/activities of farmers/supporters from their respective districts to Delhi along with Tractor/Trolleys/Arms. Farmers will also come from Haryana, Punjab, UP, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, MP and other possible area,” it said.
A precautionary order of section 144 is required to be issued to save life and property in the area, avoid any untoward incident and maintain law and order, the communication said.”There are five different points in the order like — prohibit gathering of general public at all borders between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and nearby areas in the jurisdictional area of northeast District. Prohibit entering of tractors, trolleys, buses, trucks, commercial vehicles, personal vehicles, or horses etc, carrying protestors in Delhi from Uttar Pradesh.
“Order that the northeast district police shall make all efforts to prevent protestors from entering Delhi. Order that no person or protestor shall be allowed to bear arms, including firearms, swords, trishul, spears, lathi, rods and the police shall make all efforts to detain these persons on the spot. Order that any person found to be acting in contravention to this order shall be liable to be punished under section 188 of the IPC,” said the DCP.
Bracing for the agitation, police are fortifying Delhi’s border with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana with barricades and by deploying more than 5,000 security personnel. On Thursday, farmers from Uttar Pradesh went on a sit-in demonstration on the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway as police blocked their protest march to Delhi, resulting in massive traffic chaos.
“We are in contact with our counterparts in Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh to know that how many farmers organisations will join the protest and number of expected people. We have proper arrangements to deal with any law and order situation,” said a senior Delhi Police officer.
“Proper security plan has already been chalked-out. Borders will have multi-layer security check points. Vehicles entering the national capital will be checked properly. We had already installed barricades at different border of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Police personnel will be in anti-riot gears,” said the police officer. According to Delhi Police intelligence estimate, some farmers may also come beforehand and gather outside the homes of VIPs such as the Prime Minister, ministers and BJP leaders.
The intelligence report also highlighted that farmers’ unions had conducted 40 rehearsals before the scheduled march, out of which 10 were conducted in Haryana and 30 in Punjab.
In Punjab, the majority of the rehearsals were held in the Gurdaspur district.
The intelligence report further added that farmers can come to the national capital by car, bike, metro, rail, or bus.Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka are expected to participate in this agitation. In addition, over 100 meetings have been organised by the farmer organisations in connection with the agitation, the report mentioned.
It further added that anti-social elements may participate in this agitation and disrupt law and order.
The report also said that some farmers may gather outside the residences of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, and senior BJP leaders before entering Delhi.
