Farmers on the move: Mobile internet and SMS services closed in Haryana districts; Borders reinforced, traffic advice issued
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had announced a 'Delhi Chalo' march of over 200 farmer unions on February 13 to put pressure on the Center to accept various demands
Breaking news: The Haryana government has ordered the suspension of mobile internet services and bulk SMS in seven districts – Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa – ahead of the 'Delhi Chalo' call by farmers on February 13, even if elaborate arrangements are made. made to seal the borders between Punjab and Haryana in the wake of the proposed march.
Officials said the borders between Punjab and Haryana have been sealed in Ambala, Jind and Fatehabad districts, while the Haryana Police on Saturday issued a traffic advisory, urging commuters to restrict travel on the state's major highways to urgent situations on 13 February, anticipating potential traffic disruptions on key routes from Haryana to Punjab.
Here are the details of the traffic advisory issued by Haryana Police:
As per traffic advisory, commuters traveling from Chandigarh to Delhi have been advised to take alternative routes via Derabassi, Barwala/Ramgarh, Saha, Shahbad, Kurukshetra or via Panchkula, NH-344 Yamunanagar Indri/Pipli, Karnal.
Similarly, passengers traveling from Delhi to Chandigarh have been asked to reach their destination via Karnal, Indri/Pipli, Yamunanagar, Panchkula or Kurukshetra, Shahbad, Saha, Barwala, Ramgarh.
The advisory said the road at Ghaggar flyover at the Shambhu border was closed for traffic movement, with police placing cemented barricades on the road.
The Ghaggar riverbed was also dug up to prevent farmers with tractors from reaching the highway, officials said.
Commuters traveling to Ambala via Shambhu border faced inconvenience due to massive traffic disruption, the advisory said.
The general public is urged to travel to Punjab only in urgent circumstances, the report said.
According to the advisory, guidelines have been issued to all senior police officers to minimize inconvenience to the general public and ensure smooth functioning of law and order.
Preparations have been made to temporarily change traffic routes in the affected districts, namely Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Fatehabad and Sirsa, police said.
However, traffic movement on all other routes in the state will remain unaffected, the police said, while appealing to the public to refrain from unnecessary trips during this period.
Officials are assessing the arrangements
Meanwhile, Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur along with Inspector General of Police (Ambala Range) Siwas Kaviraj and Ambala Superintendent of Police Jashandeep Singh visited the Shambhu border near Ambala on Saturday to take stock of the arrangements in the aftermath of the proposed farmers' march. week.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had announced a 'Delhi Chalo' march of over 200 farmer unions on February 13 to put pressure on the Center to accept various demands, including introduction of a law to ensure minimal support. price (MSP) for crops.
Tight safety agreements
Ambala Deputy Commissioner Shaleen said strict security arrangements have been made for February 13.
Instructions have been issued to set up check posts at places where the farmers are expected to come from, officials said.
Police have already stocked concrete blocks, barbed wire, sandbags, barricades and other items at the Shambhu border in Ambala to prevent the protesters from marching towards the national capital.
Similar arrangements are being made in Jind and Fatehabad districts.
The farmers plan to go to Delhi from Ambala-Shambhu, Khanauri-Jind and Dabwali borders.
50 paramilitary companies have been deployed
Haryana Police has already deployed 50 companies of central paramilitary forces to maintain law and order in the state.
Meanwhile, farmers are preparing to march on Delhi even as they have criticized the Haryana government for sealing the borders with Punjab.
“We are getting ready to participate in the march. We are carrying all essentials including dry ration, cylinders, stoves, utensils and mattresses for the march,” said a farmer in Sangrur.
Farmers are preparing their tractor trucks to participate in the march, police said.
In Rajpura, farmers organized a tractor march as part of their preparations to move towards Delhi on February 13.
To avoid arrests by Haryana police, several farmers have shifted from their homes to other places in Ambala.
A three-member team of Union ministers had held a detailed discussion with leaders of farmers' organizations on Thursday.
The farmer leaders had said that the central ministers had assured them that they would hold a second round of the meeting soon, but they had also stated that their proposed 'Delhi Chalo' march on February 13 would stand.
Besides a legal guarantee for MSP, the farmers are also demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations, pensions for farmers and agricultural labourers, waiver of farm debts, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for the victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
In 2020, a large number of farmers from Punjab and nearby areas of Ambala gathered at the Shambhu border and broke police barriers to march towards Delhi.
The farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, protested for a year at Delhi's border points – Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur – against the three now repealed farm laws.
(With PTI inputs)