Even as the Delhi police said the clashes had led to "extensive damage to public property" and injuries to "many policemen", the Samyukta Kisan Morcha issued a statement distancing itself from the ‘violent elements’. The farmer body strongly condemned the incidents. and called off the tractor rally with immediate effect while maintaining that the movement will continue peacefully.
Farmer leaders have also announced a plan to march on foot to Parliament on February 1, the day the Union Budget will be presented.
On Tuesday, as a section of protesters stormed the Red Fort, Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with top officials of the MHA, Delhi Police and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) at his residence. At the meeting, which began around 4.30 pm and continued for one-and-a-half hours, Shah reviewed the security arrangements and discussed the next course of action to defuse the tension.
A decision was taken to deploy additional forces from paramilitary units and suspend Internet in some areas of the National Capital Region, including Singhu, Ghazipur, Tikri, Mukarba Chowk and Nangloi. Sources said five additional companies of the CRPF were ordered to assist the Delhi Police. This was in addition to 115 companies already at the disposal of Delhi Police for law and order duties. Fifteen of these companies had been pressed into duty Monday.
But, sources said, the security forces were overwhelmed by the sheer number and aggression of the protesters. “There were cumulatively around 1 lakh protesters and hundreds of tractors. The forces were overwhelmed but showed restraint and did not fire. They had been told not to,” said an official.
Till noon on Tuesday, when farmers had already broken through barricades at the borders, the Delhi Police kept receiving inputs about the possibility of protesters marching towards Rajpath and Red Fort. At 12.30 pm, a message sent by the Special Branch of Delhi Police to all DCPs and senior officers read: “Inputs have been received that the reaching of farmers with tractors to Rajpath, India Gate, Red Fort, Ramlila Ground, Rashtrapati Bhawan, PM residence, HM residence, Parliament House, CM House and LG House cannot be ruled out… It is suggested that adequate and prompt arrangements by local police, including women personnel, PCR, and traffic, may be deployed.”
By then, senior officers said, things had already spun out of control, and many protesters had breached border areas to spill onto roads that were not part of the designated protest route. According to senior officers, police presence on these routes was sparse on account of several personnel being deployed for Republic Day arrangements and along the three designated routes.
The Delhi Police said the protesting farmers violated conditions agreed for the tractor rally. "Farmers began tractor parade before the scheduled time, resorted to violence and vandalism. Farmers' protest led to extensive damage to public property, many policemen injured," the police said in a statement.
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The Red Fort shall remain closed to public and general visitors from tomorrow, Jan 28, to Jan 31. It was shut today
Delhi Police on Wednesday alleged that farmer leaders made inflammatory speeches and were involved in the violence during the tractor parade by agitating farmers that left 394 of its personnel injured, and warned that no culprit will be spared.
Addressing a press conference, Delhi police commissioner S N Srivastava said farmer unions did not follow conditions set for the tractor rally that was supposed to be held from 12 noon to 5 PM and accused them of betrayal. He said not a single life was lost as the Delhi Police showed extreme restraint.
As many as 25 FIRs have been registered so far, Srivastava said. "We are using the facial recognition system and taking the help of CCTV and video footage to identify the accused. Strict action will be taken against those identified. No culprit will be spared," he said. He alleged that some farmer leaders like Satnam Singh Pannu and Darshan Pal gave inflammatory speeches. Thereafter protesters broke barricades. (PTI)
Even as national BJP leaders from Punjab maintained a studious silence over the violence in Delhi by protesting farmers, state BJP president Ashwani Sharma Wednesday strongly condemned the violence and squarely blamed AAP and Congress for it. Sharma said that it was because of “surreptitious support” of the Congress and the AAP that disruptive forces had become emboldened to “disgrace the nation” on Republic Day. More details here.
Union minister Prakash Javadekar: "Rahul Gandhi wasn't only supporting protest but also instigating. It was the same during CAA, Congress holds rallies, they instigate people to take to streets and agitation begins next day. It happened during this agitation too. They instigated farmers."
He also said the Congress and Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the people of the country. The Union minister also rubbished the links of actor Deep Sidhu with the BJP. Sidhu is accused of leading the mob to Red Fort.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar: "The manner in which there was violence in Delhi yesterday, the more it is condemned, the less it is. Action should be against all of those who instigated others. India won't tolerate the manner in which the Tricolour was insulted at the Red Fort."
"Congress constantly tried to instigate farmers' agitation. When some farmer leaders had said on 26th January that it's final match, then Punjab government should have monitored the tractors leaving from the state and made preventive arrests of habitual criminals."
Farmer unions protesting against the new farm laws Wednesday called off their proposed march to the Parliament on February 1 in view of Republic Day violence. "On Martyrs' Day, we'll hold public rallies across India on behalf of the farmers' agitation. We will also keep a one-day fast. Our March to the Parliament on Feb 1st stands postponed for now due to this (yesterday's violence)," ANI quoted Balbir S Rajewal, Bhartiya Kisan Union (R), as saying.
Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava Wednesday said the farmer leaders were also involved in violence that broke out during tractor rally on the Republic Day, causing damage to public property and injuring over 394 police personnel, PTI reported.
Shrivastava said the farmer unions did not follow conditions set for tractor rally that was supposed to be held from 12 pm to 5 pm. "Those involved in violence during tractor rally will not be spared, farmer leaders will be questioned," PTI quoted him as saying.
The Uttarakhand BJP on Wednesday said anarchy unleashed on the streets of Delhi on the Republic Day in the name of farmers' agitation proves that anti-nationals and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's opponents have joined hands.
State BJP vice president Devendra Bhasin also targeted Congress' youth wing for a tweet in which it had tried to "glorify vandalism" at the historic Red Fort.
"Under the pretext of this agitation even Pakistan and some other forces are playing their anti-India game. The anarchy on the streets of Delhi on the Republic Day in the name of farmers' agitation proves once again that anti-nationals and Modi opponents are hand-in-glove," he said.
Bhasin condemned Pradesh Congress's youth wing for trying to "glorify vandalism" at a time when the entire country was outraged over the incident at the Red Fort and said it reflects the party's "anti-national thinking". (PTI)
Following the violence on January 26 and updates about heavy traffic raised apprehensions of commuters to Delhi as several cab drivers refused to come to the national capital from adjoining areas on Wednesday.
People travelling from bordering or far-off areas like Noida, Faridabad and Narela, had to either reschedule their plans or wait longer to take cabs or autos.
"No one is willing to go towards central Delhi. They fear roads are blocked, I showed a driver the traffic advisory too, but he did not want to take a risk. I had to go by metro for a particular distance and then take an auto, which also could not drop me till last destination," said a commuter from Noida, who did not wish to be identified.
Another commuter said, "The updates about closure of entry and exit gates of few metro stations are changing every now and then these days and cab drivers are also apprehensive to go. I changed my plans when I couldn't get a cab, will go next week now when situation normalises."
Commuters on Wednesday faced hardships in reaching their destinations due to traffic restrictions on key routes in the national capital, a day after violence broke out during farmers' tractor parade in the city. (PTI)
The protesting farmer leaders are considering postponement of their foot march to Parliament on February 1 against the three farm laws in the wake of violence in the national capital during the tractor parade on Republic Day.
A senior farmer leader said the Samkyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is an umbrella body of the protesting unions, will take a final call on postponement of the February 1 foot march.
"In view of violence during tractor parade, we are considering to postpone our proposed foot march to Parliament, which was scheduled to be take place on February 1. However, a final will be taken by the Samkyukta Kisan Morcha," said a senior member of the umbrella body.
Another member said this was not a favourable time for the foot march to Parliament and it can be deferred. (PTI)
Following an ultimatum by panchayats of 20 villages in Rewari to empty the area, protestors who had been demonstrating at Masani barrage have moved back to the Haryana-Rajasthan border today. Villagers said the ultimatum was given due to yesterday's violence.
Some farmers seen taking off their tents at Chilla border.
Gangster-turned-social activist Lakhbir Singh aka Lakha Sidhana on Wednesday distanced himself from the violence during the tractor parade in New Delhi on Republic Day and he and some farmer leaders only marched up to the Outer Ring Road in the national capital.
"I am pained at the incidents that took place on Tuesday but I am not involved in these. There is no video, photo or other evidence that shows that I instigated people. We had marched towards the Outer Ring Road under our farmer leaders in a peaceful manner. We never had any agenda of going towards the Red Fort," Sidhana, who is in his 40s, told PTI over phone.
He said nearly 20 farmer leaders went till Ring Road with their cadres in a peaceful manner and returned soon after. On being asked that they were not allowed to go up to the Ring Road, Sidhana claimed popular sentiment was in support of it as farmer unions had announced first on January 2 and then on January 17 that they will carry out the tractor rally there.
He accused the government and police of conspiring against the farmers' agitation and distanced himself from the allegations of instigating protesters, saying he always called for peace. (PTI)
The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday alleged that the BJP planted its "stooge" actor Deep Sidhu to create "chaos" in farmers' tractor parade in Delhi on Republic Day.
At a press conference, AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha, while questioning the connection between Sidhu and BJP, showed several photos purportedly of the actor with various BJP leaders.
"The BJP planted their stooge Deep Sidhu to create chaos in farmers' tractor parade," Chadha said. (PTI)
Trinamool Congress: How could protesters enter into Red Fort breaching security. Why didn't Centre have intelligence inputs on possibility of violence during farmers' tractor parade in Delhi. (PTI)
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala Wednesday accused the Narendra Modi-led central government of maligning the farmers' protest over the Republic Day violence in Delhi and demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah for failing to maintain law and order in the national capital.
At a press conference, Surjewala asked how did Deep Sidhu, who was clicked with PM Modi and Amit Shah, managed to take protesters to the Red Fort. "This is the conspiracy by the government to remove the protesters," he said.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu) leader Bhanu Pratap Singh has parted ways with farm protests, condemning the Republic Day violence.
A day after the protesting farmers clashed with the police on Republic Day, All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination leader V M Singh has said his faction is breaking away from the protest. 'We can't carry forward a protest with someone whose direction is something else. So, I wish them the best but VM Singh and All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee are withdrawing from this protest right away,' ANI quoted him as saying.
He also blamed BKU's Rakesh Tikait for pressuring the farmers to take a different route than the one designated for the tractor rally on Republic Day.
A day after the tractor parade on Republic Day by the protesting farmers on Delhi’s borders took a violent turn, leading to scuffles with the police and the eventual storming of the iconic Red Fort, the gathering at the protest site in Ghazipur thinned significantly on Wednesday.
It was from the Ghazipur site that a sizeable chunk of protesters first broke away on Tuesday from their designated route towards central Delhi. Navneet Singh, the farmer who died in the eventual melee, had been among the ones who left the Ghazipur site on Republic Day.
On Wednesday afternoon, however, the crowd had thinned out and the site seemed a lot quieter. Activities on the stage concluded around 1.45 pm after shraddhanjali (tribute) to the deceased protester, and the numbers, too, shrunk considerably thereafter. Read this report by Sukrita Baruah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviews law & order situation, measures taken to ensure peace in Delhi. (PTI)
Abhay Chautala, the lone MLA of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in the Haryana Assembly, handed over his resignation to Speaker in protest over the Centre’s three new farm laws.
Chautala drove a tractor to the Vidhan Sabha with his supporters and tendered his resignation to Speaker Gian Chand Gupta. Gupta accepted his resignation.
Earlier this month, Chautala, who represents Ellanabad Assembly constituency, had offered to resign from State Assembly if the Union government fails to repeal the three farm legislations. He had sent a letter to the Speaker expressing his solidarity with the farmers and had asked him to consider it as his resignation. However, the Speaker had not accepted the letter, saying that “a conditional letter cannot be considered as the MLA’s resignation”.
Speaking on the Republic Day clashes, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said, "At the Ghazipur border, the police barricaded the route which was the planned route for the tractor rally. Then police used tear gas which precipitated the violence that ensued.
"The farmers have handed over 15 people who started the violence yesterday. They have been found to have govt identity cards. Now you only understand who is in the govt. This was an act of concerted conspiracy to malign a peaceful movement," he added.
"We came for MSP, not hooliganism. Action must be taken against those who took different route. It was shameful. We'll have to see how to go ahead with those who want to break agitation. Press conference at 4 pm": Sardar VM Singh, All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee, tell ANI.
Delhi Police has registered FIRs in connection with the violence during Tuesday’s tractor rally that mention the names of at least 10 farm leaders, including Yogendra Yadav and Rakesh Tikait. Senior officers said police have registered 22 FIRs across 10 districts under IPC sections of rioting, criminal conspiracy, robbery, attempt to murder and others.A senior police officer said they will summon the farm leaders in the coming days for questioning.
“We have already detained around 200 protesters on charges of rioting, damaging public property and attacking police personnel,” an officer said.Police said more than 300 police personnel were injured, most of them during clashes at ITO and Red Fort. “We are making arrests after conducting proper verification. We are also looking into CCTVs near Red Fort, ITO, Nangloi and other areas where the violence erupted,” the police said.Anil Mittal, Additional PRO (Delhi Police), said, “We have registered 22 FIRs in connection with Tuesday’s violence where hundreds of policemen were injured.”(Reported by Mahender Singh Manral)
Statement issued by Samyukt Kisan Morcha
Most of the farmer organizations who are part of the ongoing farmers' agitation today held an emergency meeting under the chairmanship of Shri Balbir Singh Rajewal. Sincere appreciation was conveyed to the struggling farmers for extending an unprecedented response to the Kisan Republic Day Parade.
The concerned organisations discussed the violent incidents in New Delhi and concluded that Union Govt. has been severely shaken by this peasant agitation. Therefore, a dirty conspiracy was hatched with Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee and others against the peaceful struggle of other farmer organizations, who had set up their own separate protest site after 15 days of beginning of this Farmers' agitation. They were not part of the organisations which jointly undertook the struggle.
When the farmer organizations declared a programme of Kisan Parade on 26 January, anti-social elements like Deep Sidhu and others, along with the said farmer organization attempted to torpedo the farmers’ agitation.
Under this conspiracy, the said Kisan organisation and other persons announced that they would march on Ring Road and unfurl a flag on the Red Fort. As a corollary of conspiracy, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee started marching on the Ring Road, two hours before the scheduled march of the struggling organisations. It was a deep rooted conspiracy to knock down the peaceful and strong farmers' struggle.
All the constituents of Samyukt Kisan Morcha strongly condemned this incident.
The struggling organisations appealed to the farmers to stay on the protest venues and continue a peaceful struggle. The farmers' organisations resolved to continue this agitation and harshly condemned the government and its administration, the said farmers' organisation and anti-social elements, who tried to damage the peaceful farmers struggle.
The organisations resolved not to allow the government and other forces inimical to the peaceful movement to break this struggle. Yesterday's events exposed and isolated the anti-farmer forces clearly.
An emergency meeting of 32 organizations is called on 27 January to chalk out the future programme. All the farmers leaders were present in the meeting along with Shri Balbir Singh Rajewal and Shri Jagjeet Singh Dallewal.
Shards of glass, broken turnstiles, smashed security cameras, and ransacked administrative offices. The scale of the damage caused in Tuesday’s mob violence and vandalism after hundreds of protesters stormed the Red Fort is yet to be fully assessed. But most of the damage was seen, as of yet, outside the Red Fort at ticket counters, security posts and baggage scanners. The protesters also vandalised a CISF gypsy.
Visuals from Tuesday’s violence showed police personnel, who were outnumbered, scrambling for cover as the protesters had a free run of the monument. There was vandalism near the ticket counters as protesters ran amok, smashing the panes. Two policemen were rushed out, bleeding from the head.
One of the injured cops Inspector PC Yadav is in hospital. He was on duty at Red Fort on January 26.
Delhi Metro authorities shut Lal Quila station and restrict entry to Jama Masjid station amid heavy security deployment at Red Fort, a day after violence breaks out during farmers' tractor parade in the national capital
With a large group breaking off early on to head towards central Delhi, and subsequent attempts by protesters to break from the route and head towards Delhi, the rally from Ghazipur was a splintered affair from start to finish.
Volunteers and coordinators were stationed to the left of Ghazipur flyover, the designated point for the rally to begin. As individuals and small groups of farmers tried to push through or slide past barricades before the official starting time, these volunteers caught hold of them and pulled them back. “I have been on duty at this point since 6 am and people have been trying to get through since then. If we become lax even for a bit, everyone will break through. We have been asked to keep them back till Rakesh Tikait ji tells us to open up,” said Rajen Chaudhury, a 22-year-old farmer from Shamli district at 9.45 am. Read more
Around 200 protesters have been detained by Delhi Police on charges of rioting, damaging public property and attacking police personnel, a day after violence during the tractor rally in the capital. Police have so far registered 22 FIRs in the matter.
Police said more than 300 police personnel were injured, most of them during clashes at ITO and Red Fort. “We are making arrests after conducting proper verification. We are also looking into CCTVs near Red Fort, ITO, Nangloi and other areas where the violence erupted,” the police said.
On Wednesday, security was beefed up in several parts of the city, with paramilitary forces stationed in several places like Red Fort, central Delhi and the three farm protest sites.
A day after the farmers’ protest turned violent in the national capital, former Uttar Pradesh chief ministers Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav Wednesday appealed to the central government to withdraw the three contentious farm laws.
“Desh ki rajdhani delhi mein kal Gantantra divas ke din kisanon ki hui tractor rally ke dauran jo kuch bhi hua, wah katai bhi nahi hona chahiye tha..Yeh ati-durbhagyapurna tatha Kendra ki sarkar ko bhi ese ati ganbhirta se jaroor lena chahiye... (Whatever happened in the national capital during the tractor rally on Republic Day should not have happened. It is most unfortunate, and the central government should take this very seriously),” Mayawati said in a statement.
Yadav, on the other hand, came out more strongly against the government and blamed the agitation for its neglect of farmers.
“BJP sarkar ne jis prakar kisanon ko nirantaar upekshit, apmanit wah aropit kiya hai, usase kisano ke rosh ko akrosh mein badalne mein nirnayak bhumika nibhayi hai. Jo halat bane hain, unke liye Bhajapa Sarkar kasoorwar hai (The way the BJP government constantly neglected farmers, disrespected them and blamed them, played a role in the agitation. Whatever situation has emerged, the government is responsible for it).” the Samajwadi Party chief said.
In Punjab, there is no let down in gatherings to protest against the farm laws. January 26 episode at the Red Fort was a conspiracy, they say.
A day after farmers protesting against the three farm bills tried to break through police barricades in Palwal, even as similar incidents were reported across the National Capital Region(NCR), an FIR has been lodged against more than 2000 people regarding the incident.
According to police, the FIR has been lodged under Sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 307 (attempt to murder), and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the Indian Penal Code as well as Section 8 of the National Highways Act. The case has been registered on the basis of the complaint provided by a head constable at the Gadpuri police station.
Delhi Police has registered an FIR mentioning the names of nine farm leaders, including Yogendra Yadav.
The Delhi Police Wednesday detained around 200 protesters on charges of rioting, damaging public property and attacking police personnel during the Republic Day violence on Tuesday. The Police said they are making arrests after conducting proper verification and that 22 FIRs have been registered so far. As many as 230 cops have sustained injuries and an official said multiple videos and CCTV footage are being scanned to identify farmers involved and that strict action will be taken against the culprits.
Reacting to the unfurling of the Khalsa flag at the Red Fort, Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee says, 'What has protesters done after reaching Red Fort? Nobody disrespected the National Flag. They installed Nishan Sahib there. It is same Nishan Sahib which was hailed by Rajnath Singh during his visit to the China border.'
KMSC general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said, 'Someone instigated protesters to move towards Red Fort. It was not our call. IT cell is working. Don't believe in rumors. Because everything is peaceful here. Now looking forward to @Kisanektamorcha call to move towards Parliament.'
Heavy police deployed at the red Fort, a day after protesters stormed in during the farmers' tractor parade.
A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a judicial inquiry into the Republic Day violence.
New Delhi witnessed violent scenes as farmers participating in a tractor rally clashed with the police, broke barricades and stormed the Red Fort, and the police responded with tear gases and lathi charge.
Samkyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of protesting unions, has called a meeting later on Wednesday to discuss the violence that broke out during the farmers' tractor parade in the national capital.
Before the Morcha meeting, representatives of 32 Punjab unions will also meet at the Singhu border, a major protest site against the three farm laws.
The SKM had proposed the tractor rally on Republic Day. It had held several rounds of meetings with the Delhi Police in connection with their tractor parade. They had given an undertaking to the police to take out a peaceful rally as per the proposed plans on four agreed upon routes. However, on Tuesday around 8.30 am, 6,000 to 7,000 tractors assembled at the Singhu border, police said.
An official said multiple videos and CCTV footage are being scanned to identify farmers involved in the violence on Tuesday and that strict action will be taken against the culprits. Security has been beefed up in several places across the national capital especially at the Red Fort and farmer protest sites, with deployment of additional paramilitary forces following the violence. (PTI)
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Wednesday termed "unfortunate" the incidents of violence during farmers' tractor parade in Delhi. She reiterated her appeal to the Centre to withdraw the three new farm laws immediately and end the long-running agitation of the farmers so that no such untoward incident can happen again.
Her remarks come after tens of thousands of farmers broke barriers to storm the national capital on Tuesday. Clashes broke out in multiple places, leading to violence in well-known landmarks of Delhi and its suburbs, amid waves of violence that ebbed and flowed through the day.
"Whatever happened during the farmers' tractor rally on Republic Day in Delhi yesterday, it should not have happened at all. This is very unfortunate and the central government must also take it very seriously," Mayawati said in a tweet in Hindi.
"Also, the BSP once again appeals to the central government to withdraw the three agri laws immediately and end the agitation of the farmers so that no such untoward incident can happen again," she tweeted.
“Our route, Ring Road”. The call to break away from the designated routes, many farm leaders said, was given by some fringe elements, who took over the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) stage at the Singhu border for hours on Monday night.
For about six hours, from 6 pm to midnight, a group of youths hijacked the stage to oppose the route agreed upon between SKM leaders and Delhi Police. Their protest was webcast live on some Punjabi web channels as well as some individual social media accounts.
Initially, it was some unknown faces, demanding that SKM leaders come on the stage and answer their questions regarding the route decided for the tractor parade. But later, some known faces, like Lakhbir Singh Sidhana alias Lakha Sidhana (40), gangster-turned-politician and president of the Malwa Youth Federation, and Punjabi film actor Deep Sidhu, who campaigned for the BJP’s Sunny Deol in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, addressed the crowd. Read More
Traffic congestion in parts of the national capital; visuals from near Anand Vihar.
Heavy traffic at Delhi-Noida-Delhi (DND) Flyway. "Two lanes each are closed for traffic from Kalindi Kunj to Noida and Noida to Kalindi Kunj, causing heavy blockage," said Delhi Traffic Police.
Delhi Police to hold a press briefing at 2:30 pm today over the incidents of violence in the national capital on January 26. Special CP (Intelligence) and special CP (Crime) will hold the meeting.
Punjab farmer unions are scheduled to hold a meeting at 12 pm and Samyukta Kisan Morcha is expected to hold a meeting at 2 pm.
Reacting to the violence during the Republic Day Parade on Tuesday, Hardik Patel Wednesday accused the BJP of rioting to defame farmers. "The BJP will go to any lengths to discredit the farmers movement. As soon as the Republic parade was over, the BJP workers rioted at the red Fort to defame the farmers. The BJP can go to any extent to discredit any person, society, party and movement for its benefit," he tweeted.
Navreet Singh, 27, who died on Tuesday during the protests in Delhi, had recently returned from Australia where he was studying. Officials said his family had no idea that he had joined the protesters at the Capital’s borders.
Several farmers from Bilaspur area of Rampur had travelled to Delhi for the protests, and Navreet, a resident of Dibdiba village in the district, joined the agitation three days ago, officials said. He died when the tractor he was in overturned at ITO in Central Delhi.
A senior Delhi Police officer said, “Some farmers were driving rashly in an attempt to hit us. We saw the tractor hitting the barricades. Our personnel went to rescue him, but a group of agitated farmers stopped them… It is suspected he died because of the accident.” The protesters were sitting with the body and had refused to let the police take it for postmortem till late Tuesday evening. Read More
A total of 230 cops sustained injuries in the clashes that erupted in various parts of Delhi during the farmer's tractor parade on Republic Day.
The Delhi Police has said that as many as twenty FIRs have been registered so far in connection with violence during farmers' tractor parade on Tuesday.
The Delhi Traffic Police has also put out an alert on traffic diversions on Delhi-Ghaziabad and Minto riad-Cannaught Place routes.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has tweeted informing that the entry and exit gates of Lal Quila metro station are closed. Also, the entry gates of Jama Masjid metro station are closed.
According to DMRC, the average waiting time at Saket station is 35 minutes. In case of any fluctuations in crowd, the waiting time will be informed accordingly by the DMRC.
Concerns that the tractor parade could go off course were expressed during a series of meetings held in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) over the past few days, sources told The Indian Express. However, despite the Delhi Police’s reservations, a political call was taken to allow the rally rather than letting the farmers take a “more confrontationist” stand.
On Tuesday, as a section of protesters stormed the Red Fort, Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with top officials of the MHA, Delhi Police and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) at his residence. At the meeting, which began around 4.30 pm and continued for one-and-a-half hours, Shah reviewed the security arrangements and discussed the next course of action to defuse the tension.
Security has been heightened at the Singhu border where farmers are protesting against Farm Laws.
Over the last two months, the farmers’ unions had worked strenuously to ensure that their protest against the Centre’s new farm laws remained free of any law-and-order incidents. That their counter to critics who called them names — from Naxals to Khalistanis — was peaceful protests. However, the violence in the national capital on Republic Day, a crowd breaking away to storm Red Fort, has given the Government an opportunity to press its case that the agitation involves not just farmers but hardline elements as well. Read More
After two months of peaceful protests on Delhi’s borders and 11 rounds of negotiations with the Central government, as the Republic Day tractor parade spiralled into chaos Tuesday, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a united front of the protesting farmers, and other farmer leaders dissociated themselves from the violence and strongly condemned the incidents.
“We condemn and regret the undesirable and unacceptable events that have taken place and dissociate ourselves from those indulging in such acts. Despite all our efforts, some organisations and individuals have violated the route and indulged in condemnable acts. Anti-social elements have infiltrated our otherwise peaceful movement. We have always held that peace is our biggest strength, and that any violation would hurt the movement. We dissociate ourselves from all such elements that have violated our discipline,” the Morcha said in a statement.
The two-month-old protest by farmer unions, camping at the gates of Delhi to seek the repeal of new agriculture laws, descended into chaos on Republic Day when hundreds of protesters, breaking away from a planned tractor rally on the city’s outskirts, felled barriers at the borders, clashed with police to enter the Capital, and stormed the Red Fort to unfurl the Nishan Sahib, the religious flag of the Sikhs.
One protester died when his tractor overturned while ramming a road barrier at ITO, and scores were injured, among them at least 150 police personnel, as mobs resorted to violence and vandalism while forcing their way in, around the time the Republic Day parade was underway on Rajpath. The parade remained unaffected by the turn of events elsewhere.