Punjab Police on Wednesday forcibly evicted protesting farmers from the Shambhu and Khanauri border points, where they had been camping for over a year. The sites, which had remained blocked due to the farmers’ agitation, were cleared through police action that involved dismantling temporary structures, removing vehicles, and detaining key farmer leaders.
According to police sources, heavy deployment of security forces was in place before the crackdown. Farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal were detained in Mohali while returning from a meeting with a central delegation led by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Chandigarh. Following their detention, the Punjab government imposed an internet shutdown at the protest sites.
Police also used bulldozers to dismantle concrete barricades erected at the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu border, further restricting farmers’ movement. In response to the police action, traffic on the affected routes has been diverted.
Political Reactions and Farmer Leaders’ Detention
The eviction has sparked a political controversy, with BJP leaders condemning the police action and accusing the AAP-led Punjab government of attempting to “sabotage” the ongoing negotiations between the Centre and the farmers. Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu criticized the detentions and urged Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to remove the remaining barricades from the Haryana side.
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, however, defended the eviction, arguing that the prolonged protests had severely impacted businesses and industries. “The AAP government is committed to generating employment for the youth, and normalizing trade and industry is essential for that,” Cheema stated.
Protesters Demand Legal MSP Guarantee
The farmers, led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, had been protesting at the Shambhu (Ambala) and Khanauri (Sangrur-Jind) border points since February 2023. Their primary demand is a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) on crops, among other issues.
Despite a three-hour-long meeting between farmer representatives and the Centre, no resolution was reached, and another round of discussions is scheduled for May 4. As farmer leaders attempted to return to the protest site after the meeting, they encountered heavy police barricades in Mohali, leading to their detention.
Farmer leader Guramneet Singh Mangat claimed that security forces took control of Dallewal’s ambulance and removed its driver before detaining him. Clashes reportedly broke out between protesters and the police during the detentions.
Road Clearance and Traffic Diversion
While Punjab Police have cleared the roads on their side, Haryana authorities are yet to remove their barricades. A senior police official indicated that the resumption of normal traffic flow depends on when Haryana lifts its restrictions.
With tensions escalating, farmer unions have vowed to continue their struggle, while political parties remain divided over the eviction’s justification. As the next round of talks approaches, the fate of the farmers’ movement remains uncertain.