Several farmers leaders in Haryana detained as they tried to travel to Delhi
Posted Date – Sunday, 5/28/23 at 10:10pm
. Farmers were stopped by Delhi police at the border as they tried to enter the national capital to join a protest called by agitated wrestlers. (PTI Photo)
Chandigarh: The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) claimed on Sunday that several farmer leaders in Haryana were detained as they tried to travel to Delhi with a large number of supporters of “Mahila Maha Panchayat” who called for support in Wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar.
Security has been stepped up on Haryana’s borders with Punjab and Delhi, with roadblocks erected in many places and police deployed in large numbers as farmers, mainly women, try to make their way to the state capital in droves. Some farmers from Punjab are also trying to join their Haryana counterparts in migrating to Delhi.
In Haryana state, many farmer leaders were detained in their homes early Sunday.
In the morning, police stopped hundreds of farmers on the Haryana-Punjab border near the city of Ambala. In Kurushetra, Gurnan Singh Charoni, head of the BKU (Charooni), has been detained in accordance with relevant legal provisions, a police official said.
A number of other farmer leaders were detained in different parts of Haryana to prevent them from reaching Delhi, the agency claimed.
While in police custody, Charoni appealed in the video to farmers to be peaceful and not to block roads.
Referring to the detentions, Charuni said, “The arrests are for the failure of the ‘maha panchayat’ in Delhi today.” “There is no need to block the roads, but if the peasant leaders are not released by Sunday night, then you can take the next call, ’ he told supporters.
The wrestlers have been sitting in front of Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Observatory in protest, calling for the arrest of Brij Bhushan Singh, president of the Indian Wrestling Federation, who they allege sexually harassed several female wrestlers.
Several opposition parties, including Congress, have offered support to the protesting wrestlers.
Significant police presence was deployed in Sonipat, Jhajjar, Jind, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Sirsa and Gurugram districts and thorough checks were conducted on all vehicles entering Haryana, officials said.
On Sunday, police rounded up some farmers on GT Road near Gurudwara Manji Sahib in Ambala who insisted on marching towards Delhi. BKU (Charuni) spokesman Sukhwinder Singh said police detained some farmers late on Saturday night.
About 200 farmers, including women, have been camped out in Ambala’s Gurudwara Manji Sahib since Saturday night, leading to a heavy police deployment outside the gurudwara road.
Police Commissioner (Ambala) Jashandeep Singh said no permission was obtained to hold the ‘Mahila Maha Panchayat’ in Delhi. Officials reached Gurudwara and asked the farmers not to take the law into their own hands while urging them to disperse.
Thousands of police officers and multi-level barricades were deployed in the Delhi area of Lutyens on Sunday as part of security arrangements for the inauguration of the new parliament building and the “Mahila Maha Panchayat”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new parliament building on Sunday morning.
Police personnel set up roadblocks at border points and checked vehicles entering the capital.
In Hisar, some farmers trying to reach Delhi were detained by police at the Badopatti toll gate.
Police detained peasant leaders including Sadanand Rajli, Bhayan Khap leader Hoshiar Singh Panghal and another khap leader Naresh Bhayan. Hisar district chief Dhola Jawera of BKU (Charuni) and farmers leader Balwan Beniwal were also detained.
Delhi Police on Sunday detained Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia on law and order grounds for violating a security cordon as they attempted to go to the planned new parliament building of “Maha Panchayat”.
Immediately after the wrestler was wheeled onto a bus and taken away, police began clearing the scene of the protest, removing cribs, mattresses, coolers, fans and tarpaulin covers, among other items belonging to the wrestlers.
Protesting wrestlers and their supporters have been taken to various locations in the capital. Bajrang Punia has been detained at a police station near Mayur Vihar, while Sakshi Malik is in Burari. Vinesh Phogat and her cousin Sangeeta Phogat were brought to Kalkaji.
