Haryana-Punjab Border Tension – Court Denies Plea, Clashes Erupt, One Dead in ‘Delhi Chalo’ March

Amid tense situation prevailing on Haryana-Punjab borders from Shambu to Data Singh Wala-Khanuari border points, Haryana Government and Centre filed a petition in Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking directions to prevent the farmers gathering with modified tractor trolleys at Shambu and Khanauri border.

However the Court refused urgent hearing of the plea. The matter was mentioned before the bench of acting Chief Justice G S Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji by Additional Solicitor Genral Satya Pal Jain appearing for the central government and Advocate General Baldev Raj Mahajan appearing for Haryana Government to hear the petition today.

On the other hand, The Haryana Police today issued a statement urging the withdrawal of Heavy earthmoving equipment, including excavators and modified tractors and other such equipment from protest sites, emphasizing the potential criminal liability for non-compliance.

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal emphasized the importance of peaceful demonstrations to achieve their objectives. Meanwhile farmer leader Sarvan Singh Pandher said that the offer of talk by Union Agriculture minister Arjun Munda will be discussed among the farmers.

During the day, many clashes erupted between protesting farmers and Punjab and Haryana Police, as they attempted to cross the borders for their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march. Police resorted to firing tear gas shells to disperse the protesters at multiple locations. In Shambhu, three drones was deployed to drop tear gas shells. At Khanauri also, tear gas was used to disperse farmers nearing the barricades.

Farmers protest also witnessed a casualty as a 24-year-old protester succumbed to his injuries after a clash with the Haryana Police on the Khanauri border. Haryana Police has said that around 10 police personnel were seriously injured at Khannauri order in clashes with farmers.