In view of the scheduled farmers' protest against the state governments (Punjab, and Haryana) in Chandigarh on Tuesday to seek compensation for losses caused by floods, heavy police force was deployed at all the entry and exit points to prevent the demonstrators from entering the Union Territory, and resultantly, they were kept at bay. The farmers were prevented from entering Chandigarh by Punjab Police and Haryana Police in their respective states. Around 100 farmers from Haryana were also taken into custody on Tuesday as they headed towards Chandigarh. In the Union Territory, police personnel were deployed at Housing Board light point, Zirakpur barrier, Mattor barrier, Sukhna Lake barrier. A police officer said, “Cops were instructed for checking the vehicles. No farmer entered Chandigarh from Punjab and Haryana. They were restrained in the neighboring states.” SHO, Mani Majra police station (PS), Inspector Neeraj Sarna; SHO, PS 31, Inspector Ram Rattan Sharma; SHO, PS 36, Inspector Om Parkash; and others were put on alert as the jurisdiction of their police stations touched the borders of Punjab and Haryana. In Mohali, 1,900 police personnel were deputed at the entry points to prevent the agitating farmers from entering the district on Tuesday. Despite the huge security deployment, the traffic was normal in the city. Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sandeep Garg told The Indian Express that apart from Mohali, the force was deployed from other districts also. He said while the entry points were sealed, the traffic was not diverted and no road was closed. “The borders of Mohali with other districts and the states were sealed. We did not stop any commuters. All the roads were open, although we regulated things by installing barricades,” the SSP added. The farmer unions' call to march towards Chandigarh kept the district police on its toes. The borders were sealed at Zirakpur and Mullanpur so as to prevent them from entering Chandigarh. The route towards Sector 52 where Quami Insaaf Morcha is holding a protest was sealed for some time due to security reasons. Ranbir Singh Grewal, press secretary of BKU (Lakhowal), said that their union was not part of the Tuesday protest, but the way the farmers were prevented from coming to Chandigarh was condemnable. The farmers were stopped to enter the capital of their own state which is nothing but undemocratic, he added. The Chandigarh protest was called by 16 farmers' organisations such as the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU)-Karantikari, the BKU-Ekta Azaad, Aazaad Kisan Committee, Doaba, BKU-Behramke and the Bhoomi Bachao Mohim. Farmers are demanding a package of Rs 50,000 crore from the Centre for damages caused by floods in the northern region. They are also demanding Rs 50,000 per acre compensation for crop loss, Rs 5 lakh for a damaged house and Rs 10 lakh compensation for a family of a person who died in the floods.
