Punjab, Haryana roads blocked; 50 detained in Delhi for protesting in support of farmers

This is the farmers’ first major event since the rally on Republic Day, which saw chaotic scenes as groups of protesting farmers broke off the planned parade route, entered the centre of the national capital, and clashed with the police.

Farmers protesting against the Centre’s new farm laws blocked roads at several places in Punjab and Haryana on the call given by the farmers’ unions for a nationwide ‘chakka jam’ or road blockade on Saturday. Barring Delhi, the blockade is taking place in other parts of the National Capital Region, and the rest of the country.

In view of the nationwide ‘Chakka Jam’, the Delhi Police have strengthened security arrangements at all border points in the national capital. The police have erected multi-layer barricades to stop the movement of vehicles at the Ghazipur border. Barbed wires have also been put up to keep off people on foot.

As many as 50 people have been detained near Shaheedi Park in central Delhi for allegedly holding a protest in support of the ‘chakka jam’ call given by the farmers agitating against the farm laws, police said according to news agency PTI.

The Haryana Police has also stepped up security measures in a bid to maintain law and order. Senior police officers have been asked to personally supervise security and traffic arrangements at vital junctions and roads while district police chiefs have been directed to ensure deployment of adequate personnel, according to an official communication issued to them.

The entry and exit gates of 10 metro stations in the National Capital have been closed, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation announced.