As thousands of farmers marched towards the national capital on the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march, tight security measures were put in place around Delhi’s and surrounding states’ borders to prevent them from entering the city.
As farmers’ tractor convoys approached Delhi, security personnel were on high alert. Section 144 has been implemented, said to DCP Ankit Singh of the North East District, to limit public gatherings and the entry of tractor trolleys into Delhi. To ensure peace and order, almost 2,000 troops from various units, including the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and the Crime Branch, have been deployed, he stated.
The ‘Delhi Chalo’ march comes after unproductive negotiations between farmer leaders and Union Ministers, with the former keen to forward their agenda despite the heavy security presence.
The following are the rigorous security measures in place for the farmers’ protest:
Haryana officials have increased security along the state’s border with Punjab, using concrete blocks, iron nails, and barbed wire in Ambala, Jind, Fatehabad, Kurukshetra, and Sirsa. Riot control vehicles, including water cannons, have been stationed around the Punjab and Haryana borders to prevent approaching demonstrators.
Security officers maintain watch on a blocked route at the Shambhu border ahead of a protest march by farmers towards Delhi.
To prevent access into Delhi, multi-layered barricades have been erected at the Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur borders. These barriers, strengthened with concertina wires, nails, concrete blocks, and containers, are intended to keep demonstrators from breaching the city’s fortifications. Drones are being utilised to observe the situation from above.
Over 50 companies of Delhi Police and paramilitary troops, armed with tear gas launchers, bulletproof vests, helmets, batons and modern weapons, have been stationed at crucial places along the Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders. Sophisticated weaponry are also on prepared to handle any potential escalation during the protest march.
Police are conducting a tear gas mock drill at the Shambhu border ahead of a farmers’ march to Delhi. Protesting farmers have been stymied by multi-layered border obstacles made of iron barricades, jersey barriers, shipping containers, barbed wire fence, iron nails, hydra cranes, buses, and other vehicles.
For a month, the Delhi Police has issued prohibitory orders prohibiting tractors, trucks, and other vehicles from entering the city in procession. Traffic restrictions have also been established at the Singhu, Ghazipur, and Tikri borders to prevent demonstrators from entering Delhi.
You might also be interested in –Section 144 imposed in Delhi for 30 days ahead of farmer protest
