The Haryana Police on Friday announced that they will not invoke the National Security Act (NSA) against farmer leaders currently protesting at the state border.
In a statement, IGP Ambala Range Sibash Kabiraj IPS clarified that the matter has been reconsidered and the NSA will not be applied. He further appealed to all protesters and their leaders to maintain peace and cooperate in maintaining law and order.
The decision comes a day after Haryana Police said action would be taken against some leaders under the stringent law. In an official statement shared on X on Thursday, the Ambala Police said it has started the process to detain the farmer leaders “to maintain law and order and to prevent a disturbance in the social harmony”.
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Since February 13, continuous efforts have been made by farmers, part of the Dilli Chalo call, to break the barricades put up at the Shambhu border, read the statement issued in Hindi.
The police’s statement on Thursday said that many farm union leaders are playing an active role in this agitation and were trying to disturb the law and order. “Daily attempts are being made to spoil the law and order by pelting stones at the police administration and by creating ruckus. Provocative speeches are being spread through social media like Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram and Telegram continuously and posts are being shared to disturb social harmony. The agitators are being provoked against the administration through speeches and wrong words are being used against the administrative officers and the government,” it said.
During the agitation, as many as 30 policemen have received injuries and one died due to hemorrhage, it said adding two other policemen also died on duty.
The Ambala police further said that it was “also alleged that under the cover of agitation, anti-social elements are creating mischief”.
The NSA was revoked and appeal for peace was made even as farm groups have called for a nationwide ‘Black Friday’ protest today in the wake of the death of a young farmer during a clash with the Haryana Police on the Punjab-Haryana border.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body which led the farmers’ stir against three farm laws, has extended its support to the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march and pledged to mobilise farmers nationwide with a slew of programmes in support of its demands.
Meanwhile, the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march remains on hold for two days after the protesting farmer’s death. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, who is spearheading thi protest, said they will decide the next course of action on Friday evening.