Singhu: After the violence on Republic Day and clashes at Singhu border last week, the movement of the farmers has been further restricted at the site with heavy barricading, trenches and cement walls.
Internet services have also been discontinued at Singhu, the epicentre of the farmers’ protest against the Centre’s farm laws for over two months now.
No civilian vehicles are allowed near the Singhu border, and one has to now walk at least 2-3 kilometres to reach the protest site.
The tight restrictions came in the wake of the violence on 26 January in the national capital during the farmers’ tractor rally, and the clashes that broke out at Singhu on 29 January between farmers and “local residents” during which a policeman was injured.
The farmers claimed police “are trying to instigate” them by stepping up security measures, which has cut off one part of the protest site from the other.
ACP, Samaypur Badli, Sanjay Yadav, told ThePrint maximum forces have been deployed at the site, but refused to comment further.
But sources in the police said they stepped up the security measures as they can “no longer trust” the farmers and “can’t afford to have another Republic Day-like violence”.
Meanwhile, the farmers at Singhu were joined by members of various khap panchayats from Haryana, with some khaps even sending as many as 2,000 tractors to Delhi.
Also read: How farmers lost control and stormed Delhi — unions blame actor-activist and ex-gangster
‘They want to restrict incoming provisions’
Talking about how the barricades have cut off one part of the protest site from the other, a farmer from Punjab, who didn’t want to be named, said, “When goons came to attack us, they went for the women first, but we reached on time to save them.
“If our movement is further restricted, there won’t be any way to reach them in case they need us. What should we do?”
Another protester from Chandigarh, who also didn’t want to be named, said they had a confrontation with the police regarding the increased barricading.
“Even locals are suffering as they’re not being allowed to come in. But their larger goal is to actually restrict the incoming provisions (water, ration for langar, blankets, medicines) at our site. They are trying to instigate us,” he said.
A woman protester said that due to the restrictions, toilets at petrol pumps have become inaccessible to them. As a result, they’re using the toilets meant for men.
“Our stomachs pain and we’re contracting infection because of dirty toilets, but nobody cares,” said Kulvinder Kaur.
‘Police can no longer trust the farmers’
A senior Delhi Police personnel, who didn’t want to be named, said they beefed up security arrangements as the farmers had earlier given a call for a march to Parliament.
“Around 2,500 police personnel are guarding the Singhu border protest site today (Monday). The barricading and barbed wires were increased because they had earlier announced a Parliament march today. Even if they called it off, the police can no longer trust the farmers. Their union leaders and members, everyone has seen what happened,” said the official.
“The barricading has also increased after the Friday violence. We have had a series of talks with the forces for increasing security level. Can’t afford to have another R-Day violence,” he added.
Asked if the security will continue to remain like this in days to come, the official said, “The measures were taken keeping in mind their call for the Parliament march, but gradually depending on the situation, we might bring down the barricading and deployment.”
Farmers get khap support
Meanwhile, thousands of farmers from Haryana were seen arriving at the Singhu border Monday. Some even came from Tikri, another protest site in Delhi, to extend their support.
Farmers ThePrint spoke to said there are 50 khaps in Haryana, and each khap is sending their representatives to the protest sites in Delhi borders.
Some khaps named Mallik, Punia, Dalal 84, Sangwan and Shoran reached the protest site Monday.
Mandeep Mallik from Hisar in Haryana, a Mallik Khap member, said the khaps have been mobilising farmers to join the protests in Delhi.
“Caravans have left for Singhu, Tikri, Shahjahanpur, Ghazipur. Some khaps have sent 20 tractors, while some have sent more than 2,000 tractors. It’s difficult to put a count on the number of people here,” he told ThePrint.
(With inputs from Bismee Taskin)
Also read: Why the farmers’ protest is led by Sikhs of Punjab
After giving every opening to the agitators to settle the issue by negotiations, if the agitators are only going to resort to disruption of lives of others and violence they will have to face the force of the law.
The capabilities were demonstrated on 26th Jan when the agitators were given permission in good faith under an agreement, both were thrown to winds.