CHANDIGARH / JAIPUR: The Haryana Police on Thursday he used a water cannon and tear gas as farmers in tractors he made his way barricades at Shahjahanpur border with Rajasthan, trying to push towards the national capital. As the farmers of about 25 tractors passed Haryana Police barriers, others stayed on the Rajasthan side of the Shahjahanpur-Rewari border, police said.
Farmers have been in a dharna at the site, blocking the road for several days in protest of the three new agricultural marketing laws enacted at the Center. Peasant leaders at the site made it clear that the protesters who forced their way into Haryana did not have their consent.
Kisan Mahapanchayat President Rampal Jat He said the unrest was continuing peacefully but that some of the farmers forcibly entered Hayaran, which was not expected of them.
Haryana police officials said a group of farmers, mostly young, broke through the barricades set up by them in an attempt to advance towards Delhi.
Haryana Police tried to stop them using a water cannon and tear gas even when their leaders urged them not to go to the national capital, they said.
Police said the group broke through barricades with their tractors and some of them managed to enter state territory, although they were detained after some distance.
“There were some young elements who came with tractors and broke through the barricades. We tried to stop them and gently persuade them. However, they were very aggressive and turned violent. They did not even listen to the farmer leaders,” said the Rewari Police Superintendent. Abhishek Jorwal said on the phone.
Another police officer said the group turned violent and at least one of them tried to drive his tractor very recklessly, endangering the lives of police personnel and some others who tried to stop him.
He said there were almost 25 tractors, which broke through police barricades in Shahjahanpur.
Meanwhile, the peasant leaders of Shahjahanpur called for peace in the agitation.
“We are sitting here in peace and calling on our members not to resort to violence,” said Kisan Mahapanchayat Chairman Rampal Jat.
“We have sent some of our members to talk to those who entered Haryana to convince them to come back,” Jat added. Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal said some “over-excited young people” did.
“The Delhi march is not that important because we want to solve the problem through dialogue with the government,” he said.
Large numbers of farmers from Rajasthan, Haryana and some other places have been protesting on the Jaipur-Delhi highway for more than fifteen days. They have been sitting at the Rajasthan-Haryana border crossing since police prevented them from moving towards Delhi as part of their “Delhi Chalo” march against the new agricultural laws.
.
