Farmers Protesters Turn Violent As They Break Police Barricades Amid Tractor Rally In Delhi

Factions of agitating farmers broke barricades set by police and forced their way into Delhi from Singhu and Tikri borders amidst the Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath, reports Times of India.

The security personnel attempted to persuade the protestors that they have been permitted to conduct their tractor rally following the completion of the ongoing annual ceremony in the national capital.

“But some groups of farmers did not relent and started moving towards the Outer Ring Road breaking police barricades,” an official was quoted in the report.

Meanwhile, protesting farmers climbed atop a water cannon vehicle and the police had to subsequently resort to lathi charge and use of tear gas to control the situation.

SS Yadav, Joint Commissioner of police at Sindhu Border, however, clarified, “They have cooperated with us and we are cooperating with them. It is our request that they continue to follow the route they are currently on.”

Some of the farmers turned violent at the protest, with one of them trying to attack a police personnel with a sword.

However, the 41 farmer unions’ umbrella body Sanyukt Kisan Morcha alleged that the protestors who broke the barricades belonged to the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee. It said that the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha’s tractor rally will commence once they are provided the go-ahead by the police.

However, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee had declared on Monday that their march will take place in the capital’s Outer Ring Road. “We've to move towards Ring Road but police is stopping us. We've given them 45 mins to speak to their seniors. We're carrying out a peaceful parade. The route they are asking us to follow wasn't agreed upon,” Satnam Singh Pannu from the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee was quoted by TOI.

"Farmers have broken the terms and conditions they had agreed to with the Delhi police and government mediators," said ANI editor Smita Prakash on the development.