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DEMONSTRATION: The operation was allegedly carried out to support the peasant strike in India. Photo: private
A slow moving column created traffic problems along the E6 and E16 on Sunday. The action was to mark support for Indian farmers who are demonstrating against a new bill affecting agriculture in the country.
– It is dangerous to life to drive 10 to 20 kilometers per hour on a high-speed highway, says operations manager Svein Walle of the police in the east to VG.
This afternoon, police reported that “several hundred cars” were moving in a slow-moving column on E6 near Jessheim, and that they soon moved onto E16.
The organizer of the event, for its part, informs VG that no more than between 100 and 150 participating cars were mentioned.
The campaign was carried out to support farmers in India, where extensive demonstrations are currently taking place. Several of the cars are said to have decals on the exterior and the turn signals turned on.
New legislation in India has created fears that, among other things, the price of agricultural products will fall, something that farmers fear could facilitate their exploitation by large companies, writes the New York Times.
Organizer: – Contratame
Organizer Nirmaljit Singh says the celebration was only intended to show in the Indian media that Indian farmers also have support here in Norway. It was never a point that the celebration should receive much attention in this country.
He says that the signage was cleared in advance with the police and that the organizers had drawn up a document with compliance with traffic regulations. The document was shared with the participants before the event.
– There were still some who did not follow the regulations. I can not do anything about it. I myself participated and drove to and from Gardermoen as planned. On the way back I saw three or four police cars with blue lights, says Singh.
VG has seen Singh’s call log on the phone, which shows that he was on the phone with the police number 02800 for just over eight minutes on Saturday morning. According to the organizer, he had then received a clear signal that there should be no problem marking.
– When I see that more people do not follow the rules, I get stressed and sad, he adds.
The police intervened
According to COO Svein Walle in the police, the police had to intervene due to various dangerous situations as a result of the tagging.
– We do not care about the actions themselves, but there are many dangerous situations that arise, and that does not make us so happy, says the operations manager.
He explains that they consider the situation dangerous for traffic and that fines and confiscation of driver’s licenses are already being considered for the protesters.
At 1:01 p.m., the police arrive with an update where they write that they have taken control of the column.
– They have been sent with a strict message to follow traffic regulations and drive normally, writes the East Police on Twitter.
– To be compatible with the crown
One of those who participated in the action earlier Sunday, and who wishes to remain anonymous, tells VG that she does not recognize herself in the police descriptions.
– We drove almost 80-90 kilometers per hour. Also, this is a protest that is very important to us, he says.
She confirms that the campaign was carried out to support farmers in India and that it was carried out by car to make it as crown-friendly as possible. In addition, the participant of the action says that the police were notified in advance.
– There were several who called yesterday. Also, the Gurduara temple sent a joint message explaining why we should act, he says.
Operations manager Svein Walle says notification of the operation in any event did not reach the police operations center in the East.
– I’m one hundred percent sure of that. We have also called the Southeastern police district, and they hadn’t heard anything about it either, he says.
