The Crossbill Team
Chandigarh witnessed heightened security on Wednesday (March 5) as farmers under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) attempted to march towards the city but were stopped at the border by Punjab Police.
The ‘Chandigarh Chalo’ march, aimed to gherao the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhangwant Singh Mann, part of a week-long protest planned by SKM to press for various demands, faced a heavy police presence, with barricades erected at key entry points.
Amidst the clampdown, Mukesh Chander Sharma, vice president of BKU Rajewal, was detained by Jalandhar Police on his way to Chandigarh.
Speaking about his detention, Sharma said, “I was traveling without any flags or stickers on my car along with a few union members, yet the police followed me, stopped my vehicle, and brought me back to my house in Jalandhar, where I have been placed under house arrest.”
He also alleged that his house was raided the previous night, forcing him to take shelter in a village before being detained the next morning.
In another instance, Lakhbir Singh Nizampur, senior vice president of Kul Hind Kisan Sabha, was detained at Jandiala Guru in Tarn Taran along with other union members. They were taken to the Jandiala Guru police station by local authorities. At Moga farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan taken into custody by Sangrur police.
As a precautionary measure against potential disruptions, Chandigarh Police issued a traffic advisory on Tuesday, warning of diversions and restrictions to ensure smooth vehicular movement and public safety.
At the Chandigarh-Mohali border, barricades were put up, and additional security forces were deployed to prevent the farmers from entering the city.
The crackdown follows Punjab Chief Minister Mann’s bizarre criticism of farmer organizations for frequently resorting to protests, which he claimed were turning Punjab into a “state of dharnas” and causing economic losses.
His remarks came after Monday’s meeting between SKM leaders and the state government ended abruptly, with the farmers alleging that the chief minister "walked out" without addressing their concerns.
On Tuesday, Punjab Police conducted midnight raids, detaining several key farmer leaders, including Gurmeet Singh Mehma, Jangveer Singh Chauhan, Manjeet Raj, and Surjeet Singh, in what SKM has termed a “dictatorial” attempt to suppress their agitation.
The detentions have further intensified tensions, with the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, which has been protesting at the Shambhu border, extending its support to SKM.
In response to the crackdown, farmers gathered at the Golden Gate in Amritsar on Wednesday to protest against the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government.
DSP Maninder Singh Pal had confirmed that security arrangements were in place, stating, “Forces have been deployed, and we are on high alert. Farmers are here, and the protest will take place at this location.”
The SKM, an umbrella body of more than 30 farmer organizations, remains firm in its resolve to stage a week-long sit-in in Chandigarh.
Despite the detentions and roadblocks, farmer leaders have urged their supporters to continue their march towards the capital city of Punjab and Haryana, rejecting "intimidation tactics" by the state government.
The ‘Chandigarh Chalo’ march, aimed to gherao the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhangwant Singh Mann, part of a week-long protest planned by SKM to press for various demands, faced a heavy police presence, with barricades erected at key entry points.
Amidst the clampdown, Mukesh Chander Sharma, vice president of BKU Rajewal, was detained by Jalandhar Police on his way to Chandigarh.
Speaking about his detention, Sharma said, “I was traveling without any flags or stickers on my car along with a few union members, yet the police followed me, stopped my vehicle, and brought me back to my house in Jalandhar, where I have been placed under house arrest.”
He also alleged that his house was raided the previous night, forcing him to take shelter in a village before being detained the next morning.
In another instance, Lakhbir Singh Nizampur, senior vice president of Kul Hind Kisan Sabha, was detained at Jandiala Guru in Tarn Taran along with other union members. They were taken to the Jandiala Guru police station by local authorities. At Moga farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan taken into custody by Sangrur police.
Scuffle between farmers and police at Moga pic.twitter.com/C63nNj5wZa
— Neel Kamal (@NeelkamalTOI) March 5, 2025
As a precautionary measure against potential disruptions, Chandigarh Police issued a traffic advisory on Tuesday, warning of diversions and restrictions to ensure smooth vehicular movement and public safety.
At the Chandigarh-Mohali border, barricades were put up, and additional security forces were deployed to prevent the farmers from entering the city.
The crackdown follows Punjab Chief Minister Mann’s bizarre criticism of farmer organizations for frequently resorting to protests, which he claimed were turning Punjab into a “state of dharnas” and causing economic losses.
His remarks came after Monday’s meeting between SKM leaders and the state government ended abruptly, with the farmers alleging that the chief minister "walked out" without addressing their concerns.
On Tuesday, Punjab Police conducted midnight raids, detaining several key farmer leaders, including Gurmeet Singh Mehma, Jangveer Singh Chauhan, Manjeet Raj, and Surjeet Singh, in what SKM has termed a “dictatorial” attempt to suppress their agitation.
The detentions have further intensified tensions, with the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, which has been protesting at the Shambhu border, extending its support to SKM.
In response to the crackdown, farmers gathered at the Golden Gate in Amritsar on Wednesday to protest against the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government.
DSP Maninder Singh Pal had confirmed that security arrangements were in place, stating, “Forces have been deployed, and we are on high alert. Farmers are here, and the protest will take place at this location.”
The SKM, an umbrella body of more than 30 farmer organizations, remains firm in its resolve to stage a week-long sit-in in Chandigarh.
Despite the detentions and roadblocks, farmer leaders have urged their supporters to continue their march towards the capital city of Punjab and Haryana, rejecting "intimidation tactics" by the state government.
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