BATHINDA/PATIALA: Punjab Police on Wednesday detained fasting farmer activist Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) head Sarwan Singh Pandher, and other key protest leaders in Mohali. The detentions occurred as the leaders were returning from a meeting with a central government delegation in Chandigarh. Simultaneously, Punjab Police evicted protesting farmers from the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, clearing both sites by late evening.
Evictions Despite Assurances from Punjab Government
The evictions proceeded despite prior assurances from Punjab ministers that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led state government had no intention of disrupting the farm protests or removing protesters from Shambhu and Khanauri. A senior Punjab Police officer confirmed that over 250 protesters were detained from Khanauri, while 110 were picked up from Shambhu and others from Mohali. The detainees were moved to a marriage hall nearby.
Detentions Follow High-Level Meeting on MSP Guarantee
Wednesday marked the seventh round of talks between farmer leaders and central government representatives since February 2024, focusing on the farmers’ primary demand for a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. After the meeting, central ministers decided to appoint Joint Secretary Purna Chand Kishan to engage with agricultural experts and farmer representatives for further discussions on the contentious issue. The next round of talks is scheduled for May 4.
Farmers Cite Financial Data to Support MSP Demand
During the meeting, farmer leaders presented compelling data from reputed agencies such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Crisil, and RBI to highlight the financial implications of providing MSP. As the leaders proceeded from Chandigarh toward the Shambhu border, Dallewal and his associates were detained by Punjab Police shortly after crossing into Punjab at Jagatpura in Mohali. Dallewal was taken into custody in his ambulance, while Pandher was picked up from his vehicle after a brief attempt to evade arrest.
Forceful Evictions and Allegations of Police Aggression
Farmers had anticipated police action due to the heavy security deployment at both protest sites but expected it to occur at Shambhu and Khanauri. By late Wednesday evening, a few hundred farmers had been rounded up at the Khanauri interstate border. Witnesses reported that several farmers’ turbans were tossed during minor scuffles as they were forcibly put into buses.
BKU Ekta Sidhupur leader Kulwant Singh alleged that police gave no time for farmers, especially the elderly, to vacate the sites, leaving behind belongings and tractor trailers. Deepu, a close associate of Dallewal, claimed that police forcibly rounded up over 150 farmers within minutes.
Police Deny Use of Force, Farmers Dispute Claim
Sangrur SSP Sartaj Singh Chahal stated that the operation was conducted peacefully and that police did not engage in any physical clashes with the farmers. However, farmer leaders disputed this claim, alleging that authorities used force to disperse the protesters, particularly at Khanauri.
The developments have further intensified tensions between the farmers and the government as the MSP issue remains unresolved, with the next round of discussions slated to determine the future course of action.
