Clashes erupted at the Khanauri border in Haryana as violent protesters allegedly attacked police personnel with sticks, machetes, and pelting stones. According to Haryana Police spokesperson Manisha Chaudhary, approximately 12 police personnel sustained serious injuries during the confrontation.
Earlier, the Haryana Police fired tear gas shells at farmers on Wednesday, February 21 to prevent them from moving towards the barricades at Shambhu and Khanauri borders. Farmers demanding a legal guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops had announced that they would resume their protest from 11 am on Wednesday, after the fourth round of talks with the farmers failed to resolve the issue.
During the farmers’ movement, miscreants attacked the police by setting fire to paddy straw and pouring chillies. Due to excessive smoke, many farmers resorted to swords. Police have also been attacked with spears and machetes. So far, about 12 police personnel have been seriously injured and 2 referred. Superintendent of Police Sumit Kumar said that at present no information has been received about the death of any farmer. A farmer is said to be seriously injured.
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Clashes at Shambhu and Khanauri borders
Some farmers tried to move towards the barricades put up in several phases at Shambhu near Ambala in Haryana, after which the police fired tear gas shells to disperse them. After a brief pause, a similar incident happened again.
A drone was also seen flying over the protest site at the Shambhu border. A similar situation was witnessed at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border when the Haryana Police fired multiple tear gas shells to disperse the farmers trying to move towards the barricades.
After the tear gas shells were fired, a situation of chaos arose, and farmers were seen running around to escape the smoke that had spread in the area. Many protesting farmers were seen wearing masks and goggles to protect themselves from the tear gas. Farmer leaders have asked farmers to maintain peace at the border points.
Farmers reject government proposal
The protesting farmers have rejected the proposal of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government to buy pulses, maize, and cotton at MSP for five years by government agencies. Thousands of farmers started marching towards Delhi on February 13. These farmers were stopped at the Haryana border, where they clashed with security personnel. The farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders on the Punjab border with Haryana since then.
Demands of the farmers
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are leading the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march to put pressure on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee on MSP for crops and farm loan waiver.
