Farmer protest 2.0
National/ Punjab Desk
Sandeep Dhand
Journalist & Research Analysist
Punjab Police carried out a major operation to clear the farmers’ protest sites at Shambhu and Dhabi Gujran borders, where farmers had been sitting in protest for the past 13 months. This action took place after a meeting between farmer leaders and central ministers in Chandigarh, following which key farmer leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher, were taken into custody.
The detained farmers were initially taken to Phase-11 police station in Mohali and later shifted to the Commando Training Center in Bahadurgarh, which has been turned into a temporary detention center. Reports suggest that Dallewal has been transferred to DMC Hospital in Ludhiana for medical treatment.
Police Bulldoze Protest Camps, Farmers Detained
During the police action, bulldozers were used to demolish stages, tents, and makeshift shelters built by the farmers. At Dhabi Gujran Border, minor clashes occurred, and the police used mild force to disperse the protestors. Around 300 farmers were detained, though many were later released.
To prevent further unrest, the internet services in Patiala were suspended, and heavy police deployment was seen across the region. The number of protesting farmers was around 500, while 5,000 police personnel were deployed for the operation. Many farmers voluntarily boarded police buses, while some were forcibly taken into custody.
Shambhu and Khanauri Borders to Reopen for Traffic
Authorities have announced that all barricades at Shambhu and Khanauri borders will be removed by March 20, restoring normal movement of vehicles. Haryana Police is also dismantling barricades that had been in place for over a year.
Farmers’ Reaction and Political Criticism
The police crackdown has drawn strong reactions from farmers and their supporters. Many farmers, including Manjit Niyal, accused Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of betrayal. Women farmers from Bathinda’s Mandi Kalan village also condemned the police action.
Meanwhile, SSP Dr. Nanak Singh, who led the operation at Shambhu Border, stated that by the next morning, “there will be no trace that a protest ever took place here.” He urged farmers to vacate the site peacefully, saying the police did not wish to engage in physical confrontation.
Despite the action, the farmers’ unions have vowed to continue their movement and plan to regroup and decide their next steps in the coming days.