New Delhi: Police in Punjab have dismantled long-standing protest camps and detained hundreds of farmers demanding legally-backed guarantees for better crop prices.
The protest, which began in February 2023, was halted at the Punjab-Haryana border as farmers attempted to march toward New Delhi.
Authorities moved in on Wednesday night, using bulldozers to tear down temporary structures. The clearance proceeded peacefully as farmers, having received prior notice, cooperated and boarded the buses voluntarily.
Among those detained were key farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the latter of whom was transported by ambulance after months on an indefinite protest fast.
Farmer unions and opposition figures condemned the arrests. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) defended the eviction while voicing support for the farmers’ demands. “Let’s work together to safeguard Punjab’s interests,” said state vice president Tarunpreet Singh Sond.
The Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had previously repealed contentious farm laws in 2021 after a year-long protest. On Wednesday, BJP officials met with farmer representatives to address their concerns.
The crackdown has reignited concerns over the government’s handling of farmer protests, with agricultural unions vowing to continue their fight for fair crop prices.
