Farmers ‘Dilli Chalo’ march: Haryana, Rajasthan seal border with Punjab, impose Sec 144

The police have urged commuters heading to Punjab to stay updated on advisories released by the Haryana police.

After Haryana, now Rajasthan has closed its borders with Punjab at Sadhuwali location in Sri Ganganagar district. Additionally, Section 144 has been imposed in Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan, which borders Punjab’s Fazilka, Muktsar, and Bathinda districts. Many farmer unions in Rajasthan had already announced their participation in the Dilli Chalo call by SKM, a non-political organization, and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. Even during the agitation against farm laws, farmers from Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Sangria, etc., participated in the kisan aandolan against the farm laws. Despite the barricading done by Rajasthan, farmers claim they will still reach Delhi.

Ahead of the farmers’ proposed Delhi Chalo march, the Haryana government Saturday sealed the state’s border with Punjab in Ambala and ordered suspension of mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts beginning 6 am on February 11.

According to an official order, the mobile internet services will remain suspended in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa districts till 23:59 pm on February 13.

Earlier in the day, Haryana Police also installed concrete blocks and metal sheets to seal the both sides of the highway at Shambhu barrier over river Ghaggar in Ambala. The Ghaggar river bed was also dug up to prevent farmers from reaching the highway through tractors, said officials. Police also made elaborate arrangements to seal the Punjab-Haryana borders in Jind and Fatehabad districts and issued a traffic advisory urging commuters to limit travel on the main roads, and move out only if its is urgent, on February 13, the day of the proposed march.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have announced that more than 200 farmers’ unions will march to the national capital on February 13 to press the Centre for accepting their demands, including enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

The decision to suspend mobile internet services was taken as there was an apprehension of disturbance of peace in view of the proposed march.

“…it has been brought to my notice by Additional Director General of Police, CID, Haryana….that in view of the call for farmers march/agitation… there is an apprehension of causing tension, annoyance, agitation, damage of public and private property and disturbance of public peace and tranquillity in the districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa,” read the order issued by Additional Chief Secretary (home) TVSN Prasad.

“…there is a clear potential of disruption of public utilities, damage to public assets and amenities and disturbance of public law and order in above mentioned districts on account of misuse of internet services by way of spread of inflammatory material and false rumours, which are being/could be transmitted/circulated to the public through social media/messaging services on mobile internet services, SMS services and other dongle services,” read the order.

It further said that the decision was taken to stop the spread of misinformation and rumours through various social media platforms…mobilisation of mobs of agitators and demonstrators…can cause serious loss of life and damage to public and private properties by indulging in arson or vandalism and other types of violent activities.

Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur along with Inspector General of Police (Ambala Range) Siwas Kaviraj and Ambala Superintendent of Police Jashandeep Singh visited the Shambhu border and took stock of the arrangements.

In the traffic advisory, ADGP (law and order) Mamta Singh asked commuters going from Chandigarh to Delhi to take alternative routes via Derabassi, Barwala/Ramgarh, Saha, Shahbad, Kurukshetra, or through Panchkula, NH-344 Yamunanagar Indri/Pipli, Karnal.

Similarly, passengers travelling from Delhi to Chandigarh have been asked to reach their destination via Karnal, Indri/Pipli, Yamunanagar, Panchkula, or Kurukshetra, Shahbad, Saha, Barwala, Ramgarh, according to police.

According to the advisory, guidelines have been issued to all senior police officers to minimise inconvenience to the general public and ensure the smooth functioning of law and order.

Preparations have been made to temporarily change traffic routes in affected districts, especially Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Fatehabad, Sirsa, said police.

However, traffic movement will remain unaffected on all other routes in the state, said police while appealing to the public to refrain from unnecessary outings during this period.

A senior official said that there was a possibility that in the coming days, Ambala-Chandigarh highway (NH-152), Ambala-Hisar highway (NH-65) and Ambala-Kala Amb highway (NH-344) might also be closed.

SP Randhawa said more barricades will be installed to seal the borders. “Armed police personnel shall be deployed to prevent any violence or disruption of law and order”.

Ambala Deputy Commissioner Dr Shaleen said, “We will be completely sealing the borders with Punjab. No movement will be allowed. Liquor vends in the border areas will also be closed”.

According to the advisory, guidelines have been issued to all senior police officers to minimise inconvenience to the general public and ensure the smooth functioning of law and order.

Besides a legal guarantee for MSP, the farmers are demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

In 2020, a large number of farmers from Punjab and nearby areas of Ambala gathered at the Shambhu border and broke police barriers to march towards Delhi.