Police Use Water Cannons and lathicharge to stop farmers

Borders

between Punjab and Chandigarh remained sealed for hours

Chandigarh, 15 May (H.S.): Punjab farmers on Friday marched towards

Chandigarh from the Mohali border, but were stopped by police who used water

cannons and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the protesters. Farmer unions

were heading towards the Governor’s House to press for their long-pending demands,

leading to hours of chaos at the Chandigarh-Mohali border.

The protesting farmers were demanding a legal

guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) on crops, adequate water supply for

agricultural fields, and the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab. However, police

had already placed heavy barricades at the border and prevented them from

moving forward.

The situation turned tense when some youths

attempted to break through the barricades using tractors. This led to clashes

between police personnel and protesters. Reports said around 24 farmers were

detained by Chandigarh Police, while several others were injured during the

lathicharge.

Following the incident, farmer leaders,

including Balbir Singh Rajewal and Joginder Singh Ugrahan, expressed anger and

announced protests across Punjab. They said effigies of Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and the BJP would be burnt

in different districts.

Farmer unions have also called a meeting of

all organizations on May 21 to decide their next step of action against the central

government. Protesters made it clear that they would continue their sit-in

until all detained farmers are released.

Police

remained on high alert throughout the day and sealed key routes, including the

YPS Chowk road and the Sector-50 route leading towards the Governor’s

residence. Later, farmers held talks with UT SSP Kanwardeep Kaur and submitted

a memorandum to an official from Punjab Raj Bhavan.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH