Punjab, Haryana on high-alert as Farmers’ tractor rally in national capital turns violent

NEW DELHI: The Punjab and Haryana governments declared high alert after the violence that erupted in Delhi during the farmers’ tractor rally on Tuesday.

Protesting farmers and police personnel clashed at ITO in the national capital when the former forced their way towards Delhi and damaged police buses with their tractors, prompting the force to use lathicharge and tear gas shells against them.

Media advisor to Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, Raveen Thukral said in a tweet on Tuesday, “CM @capt_amarinder orders high alert in Punjab amid Delhi violence during #KisanTractorRally, asks @DGPPunjabPolice to ensure law & order is maintained at all costs.”

In Haryana, the DGP instructed all superintendents and senior superintendents of police to remain on alert.

The Haryana Police will not take any kind of risk anymore and anyone found causing damage to public property will be arrested and prosecuted, the DGP added.

“Under the guise of the present situation, some anti-social elements with an intention to grind their own axe, can also try to disturb peace through rumors. Police are also keeping a close eye on social media,” a statement from the Haryana Police said.

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Mobile Internet services have also been suspended in Sonipat, Jhajjar and Palwal districts of Haryana. Issuing the order, Haryana Chief Secretary Rajiv Arora said only voice calls will function in these districts neighbouring Delhi during the suspension of telecom services that will remain in effect till 5 pm Wednesday.

Farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at several border points of Delhi for the past several weeks, demanding a repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee to the minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.