Punjab Police Disbands Farmer Protest at Shambhu Border

Police Action on Farmers' Protest

On Wednesday night, the Punjab Police took decisive action to remove farmers who had been protesting at the Shambhu border since February 2024. This operation was executed with full preparedness to handle any emergencies. To prevent farmers from marching towards Delhi, police had completely sealed the Shambhu border from the Haryana side.

In response, farmers set up their protest in the middle of the road heading towards Punjab. The demonstration was led by farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, who had been detained by the Punjab Police following discussions with central representatives earlier that day. This detention raised expectations that the police would take significant action.

Highway May Reopen Today

The ongoing blockade of the Delhi-Amritsar National Highway for the past year has caused significant inconvenience to travelers and has severely impacted Punjab's economy. During this period, numerous industries have either shut down or are on the verge of closure. The Punjab government has previously urged farmers to refrain from such protests to avoid economic repercussions for the state.

Detention of Key Farmer Leaders

The police executed this operation with a well-thought-out plan. Key farmer leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Sarwan Singh Pandher, Kaka Singh Kotda, Abhimanyu Kohar, Manjeet Singh Rai, and Sukjeet Singh Hardojhande, were in Chandigarh for a meeting with the central government when they were taken into custody. The police intercepted these leaders as they were returning from the meeting towards the borders, and subsequently, a large police force moved in to disperse the protesting farmers.