*7000 policemen deployed to maintain law and order
Ambala: Farmer leaders of Sanyukat Kisan Morcha (SKM) and KMM today morning, while talking to the media persons here, stated that they should be allowed to march to Delhi. At Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border, there was a crowd of approximately 10,000 protesting farmers along with nearly 1200 tractor and trolleys parked on the national highway. The protesting farmers had also n specially modified and fortified tractor trolleys, two poclain machines and JCBs to attack and damage the police barricades. There were also arming youths covered faces with sticks, stones and iron shields to attack police and induldge in heavy stone pelting.
The leaders of Kisam Unions SKM/NP and KKM were advised that section 144 CrPC has been imposed In Ambala district as such a crowd having miscreants indulged in anti-social activities and disturbing law and order in the guise of farmers are liable for strict action against them, as such protestors can not be allowed to enter Ambala. Police advised to restrain their crowd and do not approach barricades put up by the Haryana Police at Ghaggar river bridge. Police strictly dealt with the protesters’ attempted stone throwing on police force using water cannons and rubber bullets .
According to information, Haryana police made necessary arrangements to maintain peace in the state having 40 layer barrigaed at Ambala, Kurukahetra, Karnal, Panipat and Sonipat on the GT Road on way to Delhi, having nearly 7000 police force from more than 30 companies to avoid undesired incidents. There is tight security arrangement with 13 layer barrigading near Karan Lake Karnal since protestors had announced to start a march to Delhi from Ambala at 11 AM. However, no incident was reported at Markanda river Shahabad in Kurukshetra district having 16 layer barricades, Tatiana and Sangatpura border in Kaithal district and Data Singhwala border in Jind district because of tight security arrangements by the Haryana police.
Between Shambhu border to Delhi, Haryana police has deployed 700 police men at Ambala 8 layer barricade, 500 policemen at Kurukshetra 8 layer barricade, 700 police men at Karnal 13 layer barricade, 950 police men at Panipat 4 layer barricade and 4100 police men at Sonipat 7 layer barricade. Information also reveals that nearly 1500 police men from Haryana and Delhi have been deployed at the Tikri-Jharoda border in Haryana.
Meanwhile, another ESI of policre Kaushal Kumar posted at Thana Chhappar police station, originally hailing from Yamunanagar district was reported died while on duty at the Shambhu border on 20th February night when he became unconscious while on duty and died on way to the hospital. Earlier, an ESI Hira Lal also died at Shambhu border while on duty on 16th February. DGP Haryana Shatrujit Kapoor, IGP Ambala Sibas Kaviraj and SP Ambala Jashandeep Sngh Randhawa expressed shock over the death of both police officers. According to information, as many as 12 liquor vends situated near the Shambhu border at Ghel-kalan, Ghel-khurd, Saddhopur border on Ambala-Chandigarh highway, Ghannour Road, Ismailpur, Handesra and Mallour near the Punjab-Haryana border has expressed deep concern over their closure by the government due to farmers protest, as a result they are incurring severe financial loss in business when they have paid huge amount to the government towards taxes.
