Locals & farmers clash at Singhu, police fire teargas shells

Story by  ATV | Posted by  [email protected] • 3 Years ago
Locals clashed with the farmer protestors and tried to uproot their tents saying their sit-in was causing them problems
Locals clashed with the farmer protestors and tried to uproot their tents saying their sit-in was causing them problems

 

New Delhi: Delhi Police on Friday resorted to lathi-charge and firing of tear gas shells as they tried to quell a mob of hundreds of villagers at the Delhi-Haryana's Singhu border where agitating farmers came under an attack by the locals, who wanted the area to be cleared immediately.

A Delhi Police SHO was among several others who were injured in the clashes. Hundreds of locals arrived at the farmers’ protest site and things came to blows as they demanded the area to be vacated by the agitators who have been at the site for more than two months.

Locals asked them to clear the spot alleging that their presence was creating trouble. They raised slogans like ''Khalistan Murdabad'' and "Tirange ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan" (India will not tolerate the insult of flag). They were also holding placards with the same slogans.

After heated argument, the locals started attacking the tents of the farmers. Following this, there was stone pelting between the two groups.

The Delhi Police and the security personnel deployed at the Singhu border had to resort to firing tear gas shells to disperse the crowd at the protest site. The police also resorted to lathi-charge to control the mob. Several policemen including Alipur Police Station House Officer were injured.


A Sikh farmer protestor raises a sword at a policeman


According to Delhi Police sources, several people have been detained.

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana have been protesting at the Singhu border since November 26 last year demanding the repealing of three farm laws. Things came to an anti-climax for the farmers after their Republic Day vandalism during tractor rally that culminated with a near siege of the Red Fort.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders -- Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain and Raghav Chadha, vice chairman of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) -- visited the Singhu border and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia visited Ghazipur border (Delhi-Uttar Pradesh) where farmers are protesting against farm laws.

"We are here to inspect the arrangement of water and toilets done by us. Police stopped movement of water tankers so that they can't reach here. Police personnel are not allowing movement of water tankers, we are being told that they have been ordered by higher authorities to do so. There is no direction from any authority, it is BJP's order. We will not let anyone die of hunger and thirst," Jain said while speaking to media.

Farmers have been protesting at the different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year against the three newly enacted farm laws - Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.