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SKM protest in Chandigarh: Better planning ensures day passes off peacefully

With pre-emptive coordination, route mapping and heavy deployment, the administration ensured that the rally of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and other farmer unions passed off peacefully.

3 min readChandigarhNov 27, 2025 07:57 AM IST

Farmers from multiple Punjab districts reached the Dussehra Ground from 9 am onward in tractor-trailers, buses and cars, filling the venue by noon. (Express photo by Jasbir Malhi)

A day of meticulous planning — marked by multiple meetings with farmer union leaders, a full-scale police rehearsal, and strategic shifting of the rally venue from Sector 34 to Sector 43 — proved decisive for the Chandigarh Police on Wednesday, as the city managed a large farmers’ gathering without major traffic disruption or any law-and-order issue.

With pre-emptive coordination, route mapping and heavy deployment, the administration ensured that the rally of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and other farmer unions passed off peacefully.

Police officials remained on high alert from early morning, with route diversions, barricading and continuous ground supervision. Senior police officers said advance engagement with SKM leaders, including Balbir Singh Rajewal, helped avoid friction.
“Sector 34 was partially occupied, so we requested the farmers to shift to Sector 43. They agreed without hesitation. Sector 43 is a big ground, and accessible from bus stand, which also made the protesters reach the venue easily,” a senior officer said.

Traffic officials said the Sector 43 venue, located near the Mohali border, allowed farmers to move in and out with their vehicles without choking Chandigarh’s internal roads.

Farmers from multiple Punjab districts, including Gurdaspur, Bathinda, Pathankot, Mohali, and Patiala, reached the Dussehra Ground from 9 am onward in tractor-trailers, buses and cars, filling the venue by noon. On stage, the SKM leaders raised demands for a legal MSP guarantee, crop insurance, relief packages and recognition for families of farmers who died during past agitations. The three-hour event ended around 3 pm, with the union seeking written responses from the Centre and state governments.

While SKM leader Tejinder Singh estimated that 20,000–25,000 people attended the rally, the police put the figure at 10,000. “We did not face any issues when we entered Chandigarh. It was better managed by Chandigarh Police,” he said.

On Tuesday, the police had conducted a full rehearsal reviewing the venue, assessing turnout estimates and planning entry and exit routes. A detailed advisory on traffic restrictions was issued a day in advance. “All city entry and exit points were studied to ensure smooth movement,” said SSP (Traffic and Security) Sumer Partap Singh.

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Over 3,000 police personnel, along with RAF and ITBP contingents, were stationed across Sector 43 and adjoining areas. Senior officers, including DGP Dr Sagar Preet Hooda, IG Pushpendra Kumar and SSP Kanwardeep Kaur, SP (Crime) Jasbir Singh supervised operations on the ground.

While the day remained largely incident-free, traffic near Attawa Chowk in Sector 42 slowed briefly as the rally ended. By evening, the farmers began dispersing, barricades were removed and normal traffic movement resumed.

Senior police officers expressed satisfaction that despite the scale of mobilisation, the city functioned uninterrupted.
“Today’s farmers’ gathering in Chandigarh was managed smoothly because we applied lessons from past events where traffic and public movement were severely disrupted. This time, better coordination with farmer unions and strategic planning ensured the situation remained under control,” a senior police officer said.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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