In a significant development, Punjab Police on Wednesday cleared the Shambhu Border of protesting farmers, removing concrete barricades that had been in place for over a year. The action came after several farmer leaders, including Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal, were detained in Mohali following a meeting with Union Ministers in Chandigarh.
Punjab Police Clears Shambhu Border Without Resistance
Farmers had been staging protests at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border for over a year, demanding action on various issues. On Wednesday, Punjab Police deployed bulldozers to dismantle the barricades and clear the area. According to Patiala SSP Nanak Singh, the operation was conducted peacefully without any major resistance from the farmers.
“Farmers had been protesting at the Shambhu Border for a long time. Today, in the presence of Duty Magistrates, the police cleared the area after giving proper warnings. Some farmers willingly left on buses, and the structures and vehicles are being removed to reopen the road for traffic. Haryana Police will also begin their operation shortly,” SSP Nanak Singh said.
Farmer Leaders Detained After Meeting with Centre
Punjab Police detained prominent farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal in Mohali after they concluded a meeting with Union Ministers in Chandigarh. The seventh round of talks with the central delegation, which included Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, lasted for over three hours but ended without a resolution.
Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite fast since November 26, expressed disappointment over the lack of progress in the talks. Apart from Pandher and Dallewal, other leaders such as Abhimanyu Kohar, Kaka Singh Kotra, and Manjit Singh Rai were also taken into custody. Reports suggest that heavy police deployment remains at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points.
Punjab Minister Defends Police Action
Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema defended the police action, stating that it was necessary to reopen the borders for public convenience and economic activity.
“The AAP government and the people of Punjab supported the farmers during their protests against the farm laws. But now, the Shambhu and Khanauri borders have been closed for over a year, causing distress to traders and youth. Opening these borders will boost business and provide employment opportunities. The farmers should protest against the central government in Delhi or elsewhere, not block Punjab’s roads,” Cheema said.
Opposition Slams AAP Government
Opposition parties have strongly criticized the AAP-led Punjab government over the detentions. Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa called it a “cowardly act” and accused the government of betraying the farmers.
“Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has backstabbed the farming community. Punjabis will never forgive him for this shameful act,” Bajwa said.
BJP leader and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu accused the AAP government of trying to sabotage the talks between the Centre and the farmers. “The sudden action by Punjab Police seems to be aimed at disrupting the negotiations. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has betrayed the farmers, and Arvind Kejriwal is complicit in this conspiracy,” Bittu alleged.
What Lies Ahead?
With the Shambhu Border now cleared and farmer leaders in custody, the situation remains tense. The Centre and farmer leaders are expected to hold further rounds of discussions, but the detentions and police action have added a new layer of complexity to the ongoing crisis.
