𒅌Protesting farmers, marching towards Delhi, were forced to suspend their foot march on Sunday afternoon after a violent confrontation with Haryana security personnel at the Shambhu border, located between Punjab and Haryana.
ﷺThe farmers, who have been camping at the border since February 2023, faced tear gas shelling and water cannons as they tried to continue their march, leading to several injuries. Despite repeated clashes with security forces, the farmers remain determined to press on with their demands until they are met.
﷽This protest marks the 300th day since the farmers first gathered at the Shambhu border.
😼The farmers are marching for multiple demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP, ensuring fair prices for their produce; farm debt waiver and pension for farmers and agricultural laborers; reversal of electricity tariff hikes, and withdrawal of police cases filed against farmers during previous protests; justice for the victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence of 2021; and reinstatement of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act and compensation for families of farmers who lost their lives during previous agitations.
Farmers’ Protest March Key Highlights
🐽A group of 101 farmers had resumed their march from the Shambhu protest site on Sunday afternoon, but within moments, they were met with forceful resistance from Haryana security personnel. As the farmers approached the barricades, a police officer asked them to show their permission for the march, which led to an escalation of tensions.
﷽Haryana Police, which had previously ordered that the farmers obtain permission from Delhi authorities, asked the protesters to prove their identity and provide the necessary approvals to continue their march. Farmers, however, claimed that they were unfairly targeted and stopped despite their peaceful intentions.
🌟The confrontations continued, with teargas being lobbed to disperse the farmers, who had covered their faces to protect against the gas. The violent exchange of tear gas forced many farmers to retreat, some attempting to cover the gas shells with wet jute bags.
ꩲAccording to Punjab farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, at least eight farmers were injured, and one had to be rushed to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, PTI reported.
♌The farmers, under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, had earlier been halted in their march due to the heavy security and lack of permission from the authorities.
🍸The group, dubbed as “marjeevras” (those willing to die for a cause), had been marching on foot when the confrontation occurred.
💖Meanwhile, farmers in Greater Noida, currently incarcerated in Gautam Buddha Nagar District Jail, have gone on a hunger strike in protest of their long-standing demands. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) revealed that these farmers, detained while peacefully protesting, are demanding justice for their rights, including a new law for land allotment and the enforcement of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act. The hunger strike poses a significant health risk for the detainees, and SKM has urged the authorities to address their concerns urgently.
