In a major crackdown on the ongoing farmers' protest, the police removed barricades and cleared the Punjab-Haryana border after evicting farmers who had been staging a sit-in for over a year. Along with the eviction, the authorities imposed a temporary internet shutdown and cut off electricity in and around the protest sites. The police used bulldozers to dismantle the concrete barricades that had been restricting movement on these crucial borders.

The action, which took place late on March 19 and into the night, followed the detention of several farm union leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher. The protests at Shambhu and Khanauri, on the Punjab-Haryana border, had blocked the national highways since February 13, 2024, causing significant disruptions. The police faced mild resistance from the protesters but successfully detained over 300 individuals, including a 28-member delegation, hours after a third round of talks with a Central government panel concluded in Chandigarh.

While the police cleared barricades and tractor-trailers from the protest sites, both border points remained closed for traffic. Senior Superintendent of Police Nanak Singh stated that the farmers were given proper warnings before the area was cleared. He added that the road would be fully cleared and opened for traffic soon.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who participated in the talks earlier in the day, confirmed that discussions with the farmers had been constructive, with the next meeting scheduled for May 4. The farmers' main demand continues to be a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

The protest's long duration had led to severe economic losses, reduced investments, and a decline in tourism, especially religious tourism, in Punjab. AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang emphasized that the border blockade was hindering economic growth, impacting industries, and increasing unemployment, which is one of the causes of the growing drug abuse issue in the state.

In the wake of the government action, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema defended the operation, stating it was necessary for the state’s economic growth, including combating unemployment.

(This story was taken from a syndicated feed and was only edited for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital team)