New Delhi

Cracks have started appearing in the farmers’ protests against the three agriculture-related laws passed by the Parliament with the Police setting up a Special Task Force to unearth the conspiracy behind violent incidents of Republic day and summoning some visible faces of violence for questioning.

At least one group of Farmers has withdrawn from the joint protests that are continuing at three venues in the capital. Many farmers are returning home from different protest sites.

The Joint Kissan Morcha has changed its plan of going to Parliament House for a sit in on February 1. Instead the farmers will observe a day-long fast to register their protest against the laws.

As police started identification of the key men involved in riots and violence during the tractor march through the CCTV and drone footages, it issued notice to farmer leader Darshan Pal asking him to explain why legal action should not be initiated against him for his role in instigating violence on the day.

 "You are asked to explain as to why legal action should not be taken against you and other members of your organisation in view of breach of agreement with police, rampant vandalisation and violence by your supporters, desecration of national monuments like Red Fort, and causing inconvenience to various people in the city who were celebrating Republic Day," police said in the notice.

The Delhi Police also directed Darshan Pal to provide names of the perpetrators of the violent acts within three days.

Darshan Pal Singh is also been named in the FIR by the Delhi Police along with 37 others including Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav, social activist Medha Patkar and Bharatiya Kisan Union's Haryana unit President Gurnam Singh Chanduni.

The Delhi Police chief S N Shrivastava told the media that though police had information about the farmers’ plans of violence during the tractor rally, the same was allowed in good faith.

The case against them was registered under various sections of Indian Penal Code including 147, 148 (related to rioting), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 307 (attempt to murder).

Police said 394 policemen were injured in the violence. Most of them are hospitalised and some are in the ICU. More than 25 criminal cases have been registered, 19 people have been arrested and as many as 50 protesters detained.

Shrivastava said that it was a breach of trust by the protesters and those involved in the violence would not be spared.

move to the designated route. Pannu also gave a provocative speech there and instigated the protesters to break barricades," he said.

Other farmer leaders including Boota Singh Burjgil were also indulged in violence, the police said, while Rakesh Tikait along with other protestors were involved in violence at the Gazipur border.

He said that the Delhi Police has taken serious note of the Red Fort violence and everyone found involved would be taken to task. He also said that face recognition system would be used to identify those found involved in the violence.