Ahead of Shambhu stir, Punjab Police place farm leaders under house arrest, detain many
Two days ahead of farm groups' plan to protest at Shambhu police station, Punjab Police on Sunday night swooped down on farm leaders, placing at least four of them under house arrest and detaining several others.
Farm groups Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had announced the protest over cops allegedly assaulting a farm leader on March 19-20. However, on Sunday night and later on Monday morning, personnel of Punjab Police started reaching the houses of senior farm leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal, and placing them under house arrest.
The action had the stamp of Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, who also issued a statement on X over protests that involve blocking roads and railways. "Any announcements, protests, or strikes in Punjab that involve blocking roads or railways or cause inconvenience to the general public and disrupt daily life will be considered acts against the public. All organisations and groups are advised to take note. There are other ways to express opposition, as troubling the people is not right. If violated, they should be prepared for strict legal action. Issued in the interest of the hardworking people of Punjab," said Mann.
Commenting on the midnight crackdown on farmers, Dallewal said the action was "unwarranted". "It is no less than a midnight assault on democracy. After a sustained struggle and fast, I am unable to even walk properly, yet I have been confined to my home. We only announced a day-long peaceful protest, but instead of taking action against those from whom stolen items have been recovered, we have been put under house arrest. It is time for people to speak out, or they will silence all our voices," he said.
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Police also reached the residences of Manjit Singh Rai from BKU (Doaba), Sukhwinder Kaur from BKU (Krantikari), and Balwant Singh Behramke, and put them under house arrest. Some others, including Kulwinder Singh Panjola, Hardev Singh Chitti, Gurpreet Singh and Harvinder Singh Masaania, were rounded up and detained at different police stations, stated farm leaders. The action drew sharp criticism from other farmer organisations.
Sources in police said the action was taken as they were apprehending a large gathering at Shambhu again. In the past, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had, on Feb 13, 2024, started protests at Shambhu and Khanauri borders between Punjab and Haryana to demand a legal guarantee on MSP. Though the farmers had wanted to march to Delhi, their way was blocked by Haryana Police. As the stalemate continued for 13 months and either side refused to budge, Punjab Police removed protesters at the two sites by force on March 19.
While these two protests ended, police were accused of misbehaving with farmer leaders, and stealing tractors and belongings of protesters. It was during this confusion that police were accused of a assaulting a farm leader at Shambhu police station. As part of the latest protest, farm groups wanted to protest at the same police station.
CM's message elicits another protest call
The CM's post on X slamming protesters has elicited another protest call, this time by Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarvan Singh Pandher. He has now called for disrupting rail traffic at Devidaspura near Amritsar on May 7 and urged other farm organisations to stand up against this highhandedness.
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