Shambhu/Khanauri (Punjab):Farmer leaders on Wednesday put the 'Delhi Chalo' march on hold for two days after a protester was killed and about 12 police personnel injured in clashes at Khanauri, one of the two protest sites on the Punjab-Haryana border.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that they will decide the next course of action on Friday evening. Punjab farmers at Khanauri and Shambhu had resumed their agitation early in the morning after a two-day lull following the fourth round of talks on Sunday night with a panel of three Union ministers in an attempt to break the deadlock.
Police fired tear gas shells at the two border points multiple times to disperse groups of protesters when they attempted to move towards the layers of barricades stalling their march to the national capital. Earlier in the day, Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, who is among the Union ministers engaging with the farmer leaders, called for further talks and appealed to the protesters to maintain peace.
Thousands of farmers remain camped at Khanauri and Shambhu with their tractor-trolleys and trucks agitating for their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops and farm debt waiver. Farmer leader Baldev Singh Sirsa identified the dead farmer as Subhkaran Singh (21), a resident of Baloke village in Punjab's Bathinda district.
Patiala-based Rajindra Hospital's medical superintendent H S Rekhi told reporters that three people, one of them dead, were brought to the hospital from Khanauri. The deceased had an injury to his head and the other two are stable, Rekhi said and added that the exact cause of death will be known after postmortem.
A Haryana Police spokesperson said around 12 police personnel were injured when they were attacked with lathis and stones thrown at them in Khanauri, located in Punjab's Sangrur district, close to the border with Haryana's Jind. The protesters also poured chilli powder on stubble and set it on fire after surrounding the security personnel, the official said. Due to the smoke, the personnel deputed in the area faced difficulty in breathing and irritation in the eyes, the spokesperson said.
Talking to reporters at Shambhu, Pandher said farmers will review the situation that developed at Khanauri. "We will discuss the whole issue and the next decision will be announced on Friday evening," he said. The farmers claimed that Haryana Police personnel fired rubber bullets, besides tear gas shells.
Here are all the updates from Wednesday (Feb. 21):
- 10.32 PM
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has held the government responsible for the situation and called a meeting on Thursday. "The SKM strongly protests the brutal police repression and murder of farmer Subhkaran Singh of Baloke village, Bhatinda district, in police firing in the Haryana-Punjab border," it said in a statement. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condoled the death of the farmer. Gandhi said history will certainly demand an account of farmers' killings from the BJP. A case will be registered after postmortem and stringent action will be taken against those responsible, Mann, whose party AAP is in power in Delhi as well, said in a video message. Read More... - 8.30 PM
Farmers leaders on Wednesday put the 'Delhi Chalo' march on hold for two days after a protester was killed and about 12 police personnel injured in clashes at Khanauri, one of the two protest sites on the Punjab-Haryana border. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said they will decide the next course of action on Friday evening. - 7.41 PM
Protesting farmers mixed chilli powder with stubble, set it on fire in Khanauri, says Haryana Police -Amid a farmer's death on Wednesday, Haryana Police has alleged that the protesters at Khanauri surrounded policemen and poured chilli powder into the stubble before setting it on fire. Manisha Chaudhary, Spokesperson Haryana Police in a video statement shared on X said the protesters pelted stones at cops and attacked them with sticks. She said 12 policemen were seriously injured and appealed for peace. Haryana Police issues statement on Wednesday's clashes at Khanauri, Punjab - 6.51 PM
Bhartiya Kisan Union National Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday said that if the government does not allow farmers to go to Delhi, the farmers also will not let them enter their villages during elections. Read More... - 5.54 PM
Hundreds of farmers gathered in Indore on Wednesday with their tractors to protest against the acquisition of agricultural land for development projects. The protesters, who had assembled at the Laxmibai Nagar agricultural produce market in the city on a call by the RSS-backed Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), claimed that they were being given low compensation compared to the market price for acquiring fertile agricultural land. The farmers protested against the land acquisition for Indore's Western Ring Road, Indore-Budhni rail line and other projects. - 5.15 PM
Haryana Police claims no farmer died in Khanauri on Wednesday. In a post on X, Haryana Police said the news of the farmer's death was "just a rumour". "According to the information received so far, no farmer has died today. This is just a rumour. There is information about two policemen and one protestor being injured at Data Singh-Khanori border who is undergoing treatment," Haryana Police said in the post. - 4.51 PM
On farmers' protest, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda says, "A solution can be found only through continued dialogue. I appeal to the farmers' organisation to move forward by the way of dialogue to find a resolution to all issues." - 4.16 PM
A young farmer has died due to a head injury as Haryana police dropped tear gas shells with the help of drones on the Khanuari border in Punjab on Wednesday. The Police is yet to confirm the incident. The deceased youth Shubhkaran Singh, 20, was a resident of Ballo village in Bathinda. He was advancing on the call of farmers on the Khanauri border of Punjab and Haryana. Doctors at the local hospital said the deceased prima facie had a bullet injury but the exact cause of death would only be known after the autopsy. The young farmer owned only three acres of land and was part of the protest for the last few days. His death was confirmed by Gurwinder Singh, Vice President of Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta Malwa Punjab. Read More... Deceased youth Shubhkaran Singh (Special Arrangement) Farmers Protest | 1 Dead of Head Injury as Tear Gas Shells Dropped on Agitators at Khanauri Border - 4.00 PM
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) General Secretary Bikram Singh Majithia said "on one hand Punjab Chief BhagwantMann's government has failed to act against Haryana Police personnel who have seriously injured more than 200 farmers on Punjab’s soil using tear gas shells, pellet guns and rubber bullets and on the other it has issued directions to stop machinery of Punjab farmers from reaching Haryana-Punjab borders". "CM Bhagwant Mann has failed to support Punjab farmers in this hour of need. He should be ashamed of himself for failing farmers who have voted him to power for safeguarding their rights but he is acting against their interests.I have disclosed earlier too that Bhagwant Mann is working as a tout and now he stands exposed. Akali Dal has always supported farmers and will continue to do so," added Majithia in an post on X, formerly known as Twitter. - 2.43 PM
Punjab Minister Dr Balbir Singh said, "The situation at the border is very tense because the negotiation between Government and farmers yielded no results. So, the farmers have decided to march." "So, I appeal to the farmers to maintain peace. I also urge the Haryana Government and administration as well as the Centre to allow them their constitutional right to a peaceful protest march and allow them passage to Delhi. The Chief Minister has given me the responsibility and we have made all arrangements at the hospitals in all border districts. Ambulances have also been placed. We have made all the arrangements. I still appeal that plastic pellets should not be used. The day the protest started, a lot of people came to me with bullet injuries and also that they lost their eyesight. I urge everyone to observe restraint and present their demands in a peaceful manner," Balbir Singh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. - 2.39 PM
The Centre is ready to discuss with agitating farmers over their several issues, said Union Agriculture minister Arjun Munda on Wednesday. In a post on X, the Agriculture Minister said, “After the fourth round of discussion, the government is ready to discuss all the issues like MSP demand, crop diversification, stubble issue and FIR in the fifth round.” Inviting the farmer leaders for discussion, Munda wrote, “I again invite the farmer leaders for discussion. It is important for us to maintain peace.” A meeting of farmers is underway at Shambhu border after the Central government’s invitation for discussion over their demands. - 1.05 PM
On security arrangements amid farmers' call for 'Delhi Chalo' march, Jhajjar SP Arpit Jain says, "All DSPs are on duty. We are prepared for every situation that may arise. All those deployed are specially trained. Strict legal action will be taken against those who will try to disrupt law & order. Regarding traffic, people are advised to follow the guidelines that we keep posting on Twitter and other social media as well as in the newspaper. I appeal to the people not to panic." - 11.45 AM
Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda has again proposed to have dialogue with farmers, we appeal to them to arrive at solution peacefully: BJP.Read More - 11.15 AM
Tear gas shells were fired by Haryana security personnel after some young farmers were heading towards the multi-layered barricades at the Shambhu border point at Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday. - 10.55 AM
The Haryana Police on Wednesday asked owners of excavators to withdraw their machines from the protest site, where farmers are set to resume their 'Delhi Chalo' march, else they will be held liable for action. According to police, these excavators might cause harm to security personnel deployed at the two border points of Punjab and Haryana if protesting farmers used them. - 10.05 AM
On the 'Delhi Chalo' march today, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher says, "We've decided that no farmer, youth will march forward. Leaders will march ahead. We will go peacefully... All this can be ended if they (central govt) make a law on MSP..." - 9.35 AM
Responding to the concerns shown by Haryana government on JCBs, Poclaines, Tippers, Hydras and other heavy earthmoving equipment being brought to Shabhu border by agitating farmers, DGP Punjab directed all the concerned officers of Punjab on Tuesday to stop the movement of this type of machinery to Punjab-Haryana Border at Khanauri and Shambu. - 8.45 AM
Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Wednesday said protesting farmers, who have been camping at two border points between Punjab and Haryana after they were stopped by security personnel, will march towards Delhi in a peaceful manner. - 8.20 AM
Ahead of their 'Delhi Chalo' march, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said, "Our intention is not to create any chaos. We have made a programme to reach Delhi since November 7. If the government says that they didn't get enough time this means the government is trying to neglect us. This is not right that such huge barricades are placed to stop us. We want to go to Delhi peacefully. The government should remove the barricades and let us come in. Otherwise, they should fulfil our demands. We are peaceful. If they extend one hand, we will also cooperate. We have to handle the situation with patience. I appeal to the youngsters to not lose control..." - 8.05 AM
On the 'Delhi Chalo' march today, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher says, "We tried our best from our side. We attended the meetings, every point was discussed and now the decision has to be taken by the central government. We will remain peaceful. The Prime Minister should come forward and accept our demands. Rs 1.5-2 lakh crore is not a huge amount.We should be allowed to remove these barriers and march towards Delhi." - 7.10 AM
A day before the farmer's 'Delhi Chalo' march, Haryana Police has urged its Punjab counterparts to seize bulldozers and other earthmoving equipment from the interstate border which they say protesters will use to break barricades..10 AM - 7.00 AM
The Haryana government has extended the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts till Wednesday in the wake of farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' agitation. The affected districts are Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa. The government had earlier extended the suspension of mobile internet on February 13, 15, 17 and 19. - 6.45 AM
After the farmers rejected the government proposal over Minimum Support Price (MSP), Union Minister Arjun Munda said that the government always welcome good opinions adding that through conversations a solution will surely come out. - 6.35 AM
Days after a police officer passed away at Haryana's Shambhu border while on duty during the farmers' protest, another police officer deployed at the same location died on Tuesday, police said. Exemptee Sub-Inspector (ESI) Kaushal Kumar, who was deployed at Shambhu Border suddenly fell ill on duty and was rushed to the Civil Hospital in Ambala, where doctors declared him dead. - 6.15 AM
Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda on Tuesday appealed to the farmers and the farmers' organisations that are connected with the protest to maintain peace. - 6.05 AM
Farmers marching to Delhi were detained in Manesar yesterday.
