At Least 10 Farmers Injured as Haryana Police Use Tear Gas to Disperse Protesters at Border

At least 10 farmers were injured on Saturday after the Haryana Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse them at the Haryana-Punjab border. The confrontation temporarily halted the farmers' planned "Delhi Chalo" foot march. Despite this setback, a group of 101 farmers resumed their protest later in the afternoon, continuing their push for the fulfillment of key demands, including a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

"On one hand the government is saying that we are not stopping the farmers, but on the other hand, they are using tear gas and other things. It is being treated as if it is the Pakistan border. When leaders go to Delhi to protest, do they take permission?" said Congress leader Bajrang Punia, who joined the farmers at the Shambhu border in solidarity.

In anticipation of the farmers' march today, the Haryana government took preventive measures by suspending mobile internet and bulk SMS services in 12 villages of Ambala, until December 17. The villages include Dangdehri, Lehgarh, Manakpur, and others.

Haryana security personnel set up a multi-layered barricade to prevent the farmers from advancing toward Delhi. Local police emphasized that the farmers would only be allowed to continue their march after obtaining permission from the Delhi administration.

Amidst the protests, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border for the past 19 days. The Supreme Court has intervened, directing representatives from both the Centre and the Punjab government to meet with Dallewal in an effort to persuade him to end his hunger strike.

This marks the third attempt by the farmers to march towards the national capital since December 6. Previously, security forces in Haryana had stopped the farmers from proceeding. Despite the ongoing obstacles, the farmers have remained steadfast in their demands, which include a legal guarantee for MSP, a farm debt waiver, pension schemes for farmers, and no increase in electricity tariffs. They are also calling for the withdrawal of police cases against farmers and justice for those affected by the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. In addition, they seek the reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.​