Farmers Protest: Delhi Borders Locked Down, Section 144 Imposed, Tractors From UP Barred | Top Updates

Farmers Protest: Delhi Borders Locked Down, Section 144 Imposed, Tractors From UP Barred | Top Updates

In anticipation of farmers’ ‘Chalo Delhi’ agitation scheduled for February 13, the Delhi Police on Sunday enforced Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code along the border areas to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incidents.

The Delhi Police issued an order stating that certain farmer organisations have called upon their supporters to gather and march towards Delhi on February 13 to demand legislation on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and other issues. To avert potential disturbances and uphold public safety, the imposition of Section 144 is deemed necessary.

According to the order, public gatherings at all borders between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, as well as nearby areas within the jurisdiction of the north-east district, are prohibited. The entry of tractors, trolleys, buses, trucks, and other vehicles carrying protestors from Uttar Pradesh into Delhi is also restricted.

Individuals are prohibited from carrying weapons, including firearms, swords, tridents, spears, and sticks. The North East District Police are instructed to detain anyone found violating these regulations, with penalties under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code applicable.

“Order that no person / protestor shall be allowed to bear arms, including firearms, swords, trishul, spears, lathi, rods etc. North East District Police shall make all efforts to detain these persons at the spot. Order that any person found to be acting in contravention to this order shall be liable to be punished under section 188 of the India Penal Code, 1860,” the order added.

The order comes into effect from February 11 and will remain enforceable for 30 days until March 11, unless withdrawn earlier, as per the statement issued by the Delhi Police.

In addition to the security measures in Delhi, elaborate arrangements are being made to seal the Punjab-Haryana borders in Ambala, Jind, and Fatehabad districts ahead of the planned ‘Delhi Chalo’ march.

Reports from Central intelligence agencies indicate that over 25,000 farmers, accompanied by approximately 5,000 tractors, are expected to commence their movement from various districts of Punjab and Haryana on Monday, aiming to reach Delhi by Tuesday.

Farmers have reportedly modified their tractors with hydraulic tools to remove barricades and equipped fire-resistant hard-shell trailers to counter tear gas shells. The horsepower of the tractors is being increased to accommodate more protestors.

In the report, police and paramilitary forces have been informed to prepare themselves to counterattack with swords and sticks. In 2021, a large number of policemen got injured in a sword attack in violence that broke out during a farmers’ protest.

The Haryana government, led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, on Saturday announced the suspension of mobile internet, bulk SMS, and all dongle services in several districts until February 13.