Ahead of Friday’s farmers’ march in Delhi, police forces from Haryana and Punjab have tightened security on both sides of the Shambhu border, even as protesters gathered in large numbers at the site on NH 44.
On Thursday morning, the Haryana Police added three layers of barricading on the Punjab side. Traffic barricades with wire mesh and wheels were added and tents erected. Seven layers of barricading include walls, iron nails, barbed wire, etc.
“These additional barricades on the Punjab side by the Haryana government shows that the Punjab government has joined hands with Haryana,” said Tejveer Singh of the Haryana-based farmers’ union Shaheed Bhagat Singh of India. from its inception. Bharatiya Kisan Union-Ekta and some other unions in Haryana are also part of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), which has announced a march towards Delhi along with the United Kisan Morcha (Non-Political).
Punjab Police has increased its strength towards Shambhu border on Wednesday. Later they also met the farmers union leaders near the highway police station.
Deputy Inspector-General of Patiala Range Mandeep Singh Sidhu told The Indian Express, “We held a meeting with leaders of KMM and SKM (non-political) unions on Thursday afternoon. We have asked them to remain peaceful. We have said that the Vice President of the country has spoken in favor of the farmers and that their interests are being addressed. So the union leaders should remain calm. They have given us positive feedback. However, extra security arrangements will be made at the location before their Delhi Chalo plan.
Meanwhile, the crowd is growing as farmers from districts like Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Bathinda, Sangrur and Patiala as well as Ambala and Sirsa in Haryana have reached the demonstration site on the Shambhu border.
“On December 6 afternoon, around 100 farmers will march on foot led by Surjit Singh Phool, Satnam Singh Pannu and a few others,” said Sarwan Singh Pandher, convener of KMM.
Tejveer Singh of BKU Shaheed Bhagat Singh said, “Every day around 100 volunteers will go and try their best to walk through Shambhu Naka… Our jatha plan is ready till December 12 and they will advance daily. Let’s see what they (government) do. If they refuse to let us go even on foot, they will be exposed. “
“Farmers have volunteers to take care of medical assistance, community kitchen, traffic management, etc. They will hold another meeting and announce the final plan in the evening,” he added.