Farmers protest: Human chains and barbed wire line Delhi's border areas

PTC News Desk: The Shambhu border, marking the divide between Haryana and Punjab, has emerged as the epicenter of the ongoing farmers' protest. Farmer leaders have strategically stationed themselves in a buffer zone to prevent potential clashes with law enforcement.

Preparations for a march towards Delhi are underway as farmer organisations have formed a human chain at the Shambhu border. On one side, a lineup of excavators and tractors stands in defiance, facing off against the Haryana Police on the other. Both Punjab and Haryana Police are on high alert, wary of potential use of heavy machinery by protestors to breach barricades and enter Haryana.

Simultaneously, Delhi Police has fortified the national capital with a multi-layered security apparatus. Critical border points like Singhu Border, Tikri Border, and Ghazipur Border are fortified with barricades comprising barbed wire, nails, cement, and stone walls. Water cannons and anti-riot equipment are also deployed.

Additional security measures include the deployment of long-range acoustic devices (LRAD) to deter crowds, while Delhi Police personnel have had their leaves cancelled. Landmarks such as the Red Fort and India Gate are under heavy security.

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The Shambhu and Khanauri border points have become flashpoints of the standoff, with farmers equipped with excavators determined to break through Haryana's barricades. Despite multiple rounds of talks between farmer leaders and Union ministers, the stalemate persists, fueled by the recent rejection of the government's proposal regarding crop procurement at minimum support prices (MSP).

In response to rising tensions, the Haryana government has extended mobile internet and bulk text-message bans in seven districts, emphasizing concerns over maintaining law and order. Nevertheless, farmer leaders insist on a peaceful march towards Delhi from the Shambhu and Khanauri border points. Key demands of the protesting farmers, including legal guarantees on MSP, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, and farm loan waivers, remain central to the agitation.

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(Inputs from agencies)

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