Protesting farmers suspended their foot march to Delhi on Sunday after several were injured in a confrontation with Haryana security personnel at the Punjab-Haryana border.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said at least eight protesters sustained injuries, with one requiring urgent treatment at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh.

“We have called back the ‘jatha’ (group of 101 farmers),” Pandher said, adding that the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha would meet to decide their next steps, as PTI reported.

Also Read:Farmers Protest: Haryana Police blocks farmers’ march to Delhi, tear gas fired as protests escalate

The farmers, demanding a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) among other issues, resumed their march from the Shambhu protest site Sunday afternoon. However, they were stopped just meters away by multilayered barricades erected by Haryana police.

Security forces deployed water cannons and tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. The farmers, many equipped with protective eyewear and wet jute bags to shield themselves, temporarily retreated but accused authorities of excessive force.

The Ambala police said the march could only proceed with approval from Delhi’s administration. “They are not giving their identities, which means they are coming in the shape of a mob,” one police officer told reporters, claiming the protesters did not match the list of approved individuals.

Also Read:Farmers restart ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, demand MSP action, cops step up security at Shambu border

Farmers, however, refuted the claim. “They are saying our names are not on the list. We do not know which list they have,” said a protester.

The protest marked 300 days of sit-ins at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points, where farmers have been camping since February 13 after previous attempts to reach Delhi were halted.

Farmer leader Tejveer Singh questioned the Haryana government’s objection to the peaceful march. “What objection does Haryana have?” He said the farmers would not have to march to the capital had the Centre accepted their demands.

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“Earlier, the central ministers and BJP leaders raised an objection to farmers going to Delhi with their tractors and trolleys, but now what is their case when are marching on foot,” he added.

Haryana police cited prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, banning gatherings of five or more people in Ambala district. Authorities also suspended mobile internet and bulk SMS services in 11 villages of the district until December 9.

The farmers’ demands include MSP legislation, farm debt waivers, pensions for farmers and laborers, withdrawal of police cases, and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. They are also calling for the reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 and compensation for the families of farmers who died during the 2020-21 protests.