Amidst Farmers’ March Plans, Tight Security Measures Remain in Place in Delhi
As protesting farmers persist in their efforts to march towards the national capital, Delhi remained under stringent security measures on Wednesday. Large numbers of security personnel were deployed, and barricades were set up to regulate movement in central Delhi and at border points with Haryana, potentially causing inconvenience to commuters.
Officials reported that traffic movement at the Singhu (Delhi-Sonipat) and Tikri (Delhi-Bahadurgarh) borders has been suspended. Security personnel, equipped with anti-riot gear, are deployed at these locations, with drones employed to monitor the situation closely.
Multiple layers of barricades, including concrete blocks, iron nails, and container walls, have been erected at the Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur borders. Authorities stated that security arrangements could be further reinforced if necessary.
With extensive security measures in place at the border points, commuters may encounter difficulties reaching their destinations.
The “Delhi Chalo” agitation, led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, aims to exert pressure on the BJP-led Centre to address various demands, including legislation on minimum support prices for crops and loan waivers.
On Tuesday, farmers from Punjab encountered tear gas shells, some reportedly dropped by drones, at border points between Haryana and Punjab as they attempted to breach barricades hindering their progress towards Delhi. Until late night, they remained halted at the Punjab-Haryana border by Haryana police.
Traffic congestion persisted in the Delhi-National Capital Region on Tuesday due to barricades at the borders and in various parts of Delhi. Metro commuters faced difficulties as several gates of nine metro stations in Central Delhi were closed until the evening.
In response to potential gatherings, processions, or rallies, the Delhi Police has issued prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for a month, banning assemblies of five or more people and the entry of tractor-trolleys transporting individuals.
During their protest in 2020, farmers from states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh staged a sit-in at the Singhu, Ghazipur, and Tikri borders from August 2020 to December 2021. Police had to intensify logistics to monitor the entry of farmers traveling in tractor processions.