In a stark reminder of the year-long farmers’ agitation of 2020-21 against the Centre’s contentious farm laws, tensions flared once again on Tuesday as farmers from Punjab – attempting to march towards the national capital – were met with excessive force by the Haryana Police at the Shambhu border. What started as a peaceful march swiftly escalated into a violent clash, leaving around 60 protesting farmers severely injured.
The farmers, embarking on their journey from Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab to stage a peaceful protest in Delhi, were abruptly halted at the Shambhu barrier along the Haryana border. As they attempted to breach the barricades erected by the police, chaos ensued. Tear gas shells, some deployed even by drones, were fired indiscriminately at the protesters, engulfing the area in thick smoke and confusion.
Distressing visuals captured the harrowing scenes as protesters, including women and elderly farmers, scrambled for cover amidst the chaos. The sound of tear gas shells and rubber bullets reverberated through the air as security personnel attempted to disperse the crowd, which was undeterred by the repeated warnings by the Haryana police to stay away from the barricades.
The clash, marked by the exchange of tear gas shells and stones, unfolded near the Shambhu border near Ambala in Haryana. The stand-off persisted for hours, with neither side willing to back down. However, some protesters were detained by the Haryana Police.
Despite the farmers' commitment to a peaceful protest, the response from law enforcement was disproportionately aggressive. The use of tear gas shells, rubber bullets, and water cannons against unarmed protesters raises serious concerns about the authorities’ respect for democratic rights and civil liberties.
The toll of the violence was evident as around 60 protesters sustained injuries, with some requiring urgent medical attention. Additionally, some of the journalists, present at the scene to cover the protest, were also caught in the crossfire, further highlighting the gravity of the situation. It was alleged that media persons and the OB vans stationed at the site, were purposely targeted.
The confrontation began at noon as farmers initiated their planned protest. The visual narrative depicted the farmers facing tear gas shells, stones thrown by protesters, and a rapid response from the police. The Shambhu border, over 200 km from Delhi, became a battleground, symbolizing the struggle between the farmers and the authorities.
Protesting farmers vandalise flyover safety barriers at the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu border. While some succeeded in forcibly removing the cement barricade with their tractors, several others managed to take out the nails cemented in the road. “We have managed to take out some…rest we will remove tomorrow,” said a protestor showing the nail he removed.
The clash at Shambhu was not an isolated incident. Similar confrontations occurred at the border between Haryana and Punjab in Jind district, where tear gas was used against the protesters. The escalation of violence has sparked concerns about the potential reprise of the 2020/21 protests, prompting a meeting among leaders of farmer unions.
Farmers Declare Temporary Ceasefire, To Resume March Today
Amidst the chaos, farmer leaders declared a temporary ceasefire for the evening, postponing further discussions until the following morning. Expressing concern for the well-being of their members, they condemned the Government’s tactics of provocation and called for restraint on both sides.
A meeting was held at Shambhu border in the evening among the farmer union leaders, following which the decision of “ceasefire” was taken. The clash at Shambhu border has reignited the debate over the farmers' right to peaceful protest and the government's responsibility to address their concerns.
Farmer leader Jagjeet Singh Dallewal said that the Central Government has not conceded to a single demand. He emphasized, “The agitation will continue until the issues are resolved. We are halting the protest for the evening, and will resume the march towards Delhi tomorrow,” he said.
Farmers’ leader Sarvan Singh Pandher revealed that nearly 60 farmers were injured in the police's attack, yet the farmers continued their protest with patience. “The Government is attempting to provoke our movement,” he said.
“We don’t want any confrontation with the government but when they are not paying heed to the demands of farmers, we have no choice but to protest and make ourselves heard. However, peaceful protest is our message to all the members. At Fatehgarh Sahib, tractor-trollies have come from Amritsar, Ferozepur, Kapurthala and Jalandhar. Those from Tarn Taran will be on the other border.” Said Pandher, before the convoy, he was leading from Fatehgarh Sahib, had reached Shambhu border.
Turning down the Centre’s proposal to hold talks to resolve the issue, BKU leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said: “First the Government should make the environment comfortable on the border, then the path of talks will open.”
The 'Delhi Chalo' march commenced a day after the second round of talks between the Centre and farmers failed during a five-hour long meeting held till late night on Monday. Resolute farmers from Punjab, packed in tractor-trolleys and other vehicles, left Fatehgarh Sahib for the national capital on Tuesday morning with the slogan ‘Kisan Mazdoor Ekta Zindabad’.The determination of the protesters was evident, with many prepared for a long-term demonstration, carrying essential supplies and tools.
The clash at the Shambhu border served as a stark reminder of the unresolved grievances of the farming community and the urgent need for meaningful dialogue and redressal of their demands. The ‘Delhi Chalo’ call echoed the previous year’s protests, where farmers demonstrated for months, resulting in dozens of casualties and the capital city being blockaded.
The farmers’ call for the implementation of a Minimum Support Price (MSP) law and other agricultural reforms need to be addressed with sincerity and urgency to prevent further escalation of tensions.
As the dust settles at the Shambhu border, questions linger about the government’s commitment to upholding the rights of its citizens and the sanctity of peaceful protests.