Chaos at Shambhu Border: Police Fire Teargas as Farmers Clash in Fiery Standoff Over ‘Delhi Chalo’ March

Patiala (The Uttam Hindu): Tension mounted at the Shambhu border, the entry point from Punjab to Haryana, on Sunday as 101 protesting farmers were stopped from proceeding to the national capital. The farmers were denied permission due to prohibitory orders, which led to a standoff. To disperse the protesters, the police fired teargas shells.

The police stated that they had a list of 101 farmers, provided by farm unions, but the names of the protesting farmers did not match those on the list. A Haryana Police official at the site explained, “We need to identify them first before allowing them to proceed. The names of the farmers are not as per the list we have. Moreover, the local administration has prohibited any procession, whether on foot, by vehicle, or any other mode.”

The farmers, part of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, had resumed their “Delhi Chalo” march after postponing it the previous day. However, they were halted shortly after starting, as they reached barricades reinforced with a heavy wire mesh. The farmers are marching to demand long-standing issues, such as a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops, loan waivers, and reforms to improve agricultural conditions. One protester expressed frustration, saying, "The Haryana government has turned this border into the India-Pakistan border."

As a precautionary measure, security at the interstate border near the Ghaggar river was tightened. Police personnel attempted to calm the farmers, offering water and biscuits as a goodwill gesture, while the protesters argued that, as Indian citizens, they had the right to march to the national capital without needing permission. The farmers, primarily from Punjab, had delayed their march the previous day after six of them were injured in a clash with security forces. Despite claiming they were ready for talks with the central government, they decided to continue their protest as no offers of discussion had come from the Centre.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher told the media that no message had been received from the Centre about talks. He stated that 101 farmers would resume their march to Delhi. Central paramilitary forces were deployed alongside the state police at the Haryana border. Earlier, Haryana Police had asked the first group of 101 farmers to stop their march to Delhi, citing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). When the farmers attempted to cross the barricades by climbing over them, the security forces fired at least 50 teargas shells to disperse them. The barricades were set up temporarily to prevent the farmers from advancing.

In response to the unrest, mobile internet services and bulk messaging were suspended in parts of Ambala district. Authorities had already issued orders banning gatherings of more than five people, and all government and private schools were closed for the day. To maintain order, the Haryana Police enhanced security at the Shambhu border on National Highway 44 with multilayered barricades and deployed water cannons. Previous attempts by farmers to march to Delhi on February 13 and 21 had been blocked by heavy security at the Punjab-Haryana border. Since then, farmers affiliated with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been protesting at the border.