Haryana Police on Friday yet again had to resort to firing tear gas shells to disperse protesting farmers when they moved towards the barricades at the Shambhu border near Ambala. Talks between the Union Ministers and farm leaders remained inconclusive, with the fourth round of talks scheduled on Sunday. Here’s a summary of all that happened on Day 4 of the farmer’s protest.
-Haryana Police used tear gas shells to disperse protesting farmers at the Shambhu border near Ambala, escalating tensions during the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march organized by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.
-Talks between Union ministers – Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal and Nityanand Rai – and farmer leaders remained inconclusive, with the fourth round of discussions scheduled for February 18. The two sides met earlier on February 8, 12 and 15 but those talks remained inconclusive.
-Haryana Police released videos purportedly showing farmers pelting stones, while farmer leaders accused security forces of excessive force, alleging injuries among protesters.
-Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher accused the government of suppression, citing social media suspensions and alleged violence by security forces.
-Tragic incidents also occurred during the farmers’ protest on Day 4: A 63-year-old farmer died of a heart attack amid the protests, while a 52-year-old police sub-inspector posted at the Shambhu border also died. He was on duty when he started feeling unwell and later passed away.
-In Haryana’s Hisar, bus services of the state roadways remained paralysed as the Haryana Roadways staff supported the call for ‘Bharat Bandh’. Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC Contract Workers’ Union also supported the bandh call while private operators did not ply buses.