Haryana Police fires teargas shells to halt farmers’ march at Shambu border

Haryana security personnel lobbed teargas shells to disperse protesting farmers as they neared multi-layered barricades at the Shambhu border point between the state and neighbouring Punjab on Sunday.

The teargas shells forced the farmers, some of whom had covered their faces and were wearing protective eyewear, to get back a few metres. Some were seen covering the shells with wet jute bags.

A group of 101 farmers resumed their foot march to Delhi from the Shambhu border, where they had been camping since their first attempt to march to the capital was foiled in February, to press their various demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP).

After walking for a few metres, the protesters ran into heavy barricading by Haryana Police.

Police asked them to show if they had the permission to march to Delhi.

The farmers suspended their march to Delhi on Friday after some of them suffered injuries when security personnel fired teargas shells.

Besides a legal guarantee for MSP, the farmers have been demanding that the Centre initiate talks with them to address their issues.

Meanwhile, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Sunday said Greater Noida farmers, currently jailed, have gone on a hunger strike.

"Farmers from Greater Noida, currently imprisoned in the District Jail of Gautam Buddha Nagar, have gone on a hunger strike to defend their rights and interests," SKM said in a statement.

They said the farmers have long-pending demands, including the implementation of a new law that ensures 10 per cent land allotment.

"These farmers were forcibly detained by the administration while peacefully protesting," SKM said.

The farmers have also demanded addressing the Leaseback (Adadi) settlement issue and enforcement of the 2013 Land Acquisition law.

"The farmer detainees in the district jail have refused to consume food as part of their hunger strike in their fight for justice. Although their strike is peaceful, it poses a significant risk to their health, " the SKM said.

They urged the district administration, state government, and central government to listen to the farmers' demands with priority.