At a press conference, the chief police officer stated that the Delhi police will not spare anyone involved in the riots. He said the number of police officers injured in Tuesday’s chaos stood at 394. “So far 19 people have been arrested and around 50 have been detained. More than 25 FIRs have been presented ”, he announced. Facial recognition software is being used to identify the rioters. The commissioner charged the farmer leaders to retract your agreement with the police and violate all agreed conditions. He recalled how leaders like Darshan Pal Singh, Satnam Singh Pannu and others had given provocative speeches that led to violence. Meanwhile, Darshan Pal Singh has been summoned by the police for questioning in connection with the violence.
“The force showed extreme restraint so that there was no loss of life. It was done in everyone’s interest, ”added the police commissioner. The chief police officer recalled how they had learned about the proposed demonstration on January 2 and immediately approached the farmers protesting under the auspices of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha.
“Five rounds of extensive meetings were held. Initially, the Kisan organizations were requested to change their date due to the police commitments for security arrangements for the Republic Day parade. Despite our repeated requests, they refused to give in, ”said the police chief.
Police, he said, offered them the entire 270-km peripheral highway along with security and traffic management. “After much persuasion, these leaders agreed on three routes for the tractor parade from three border points. As is the practice, the Delhi police asked farmers’ organizations to commit to the terms and conditions of the said tractor rally. This was agreed by all the farmers’ organizations ”, he added.
Despite agreeing to mutually decided terms and conditions for the rally, peasant leaders acted very irresponsibly on Tuesday, Shrivastava said. “Their wrong intention was evident on the night of January 25 when the militant sections of the protesting farmers who were at the rear of the dharna were brought forward in Singhu, Tikri Y Ghazipur borders. These militant elements occupied the stage and began provocative speeches from the early hours of January 26, ”said the highest police officer.
“On January 26, against the agreed time of 12 noon, the demonstration began at the Singhu border at 7.30 am, in Tikri at 8.45 am and in Ghazipur at 8.30 am,” he recalled.
Singhu protesters came in greater numbers near Mukarba Chowk, and instead of turning right on the designated route, they tried to remove the barricades on the roads leading to Delhi, Shrivastava said. Large numbers of protesters began huddling at this location and dissuaded others from following the designated route. Some of the Morcha leaders were also among the protesting peasants.
Similarly, protesters from the Tikri border reached the T point of Nangloi and, instead of turning right, tried to remove the barricades placed on the roads leading to Delhi. “A good number of them also sat here, notably Buta Singh Burjgil. After a while, all these protesting peasant organizations, despite their guarantees to keep the peace and take the demonstration by the designated route, removed the barricades and headed towards Delhi, “said the police chief.
He said that the most serious and reprehensible act was carried out by these protesters in Red fortress. They climbed to the top of the ASI-protected monument, smashed the entire area and displayed a religious flag.
“Flags of all farmers’ organizations were later recovered from the Red Fort facilities. The vandalism of the Red Fort on Republic Day was a most deplorable and anti-national act. The Delhi police have taken over all these incidents of violence very seriously, “he said.
“We want to make it clear to everyone that no one involved in these violent incidents will be saved. All the leaders of the farmers’ organizations who participated in these violent activities would be prosecuted,” he said.
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