Hundreds of farmers from Punjab attempt to march to Delhi to attend a “Kisan Mahapanchayat” opposing a proposed India-US trade agreement. Multiple reports say Haryana Police stop the convoy at the Shambhu border on the Punjab-Haryana boundary, sealing entry points with heavy barricading and a large security presence. Vehicular movement is disrupted, with officials deploying personnel and paramilitary forces to prevent any untoward incident. Authorities also prevent protesters from proceeding toward Delhi by blocking highways and using barriers, including around key access points such as roads leading into Haryana and the Ghaggar river bridge.
Farmers and leaders associated with the protest describe the action as preventing them from exercising their right to protest peacefully. They say the trade deal would harm agriculture and affect farmers and farm labourers, and they argue that they are attempting to travel using buses and private vehicles rather than tractor-trolleys.
One report says the Haryana Police detain BKU (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni and that farmers stage a sit-in at Shambhu after being stopped. Reports also mention that additional security is placed along other Delhi-bound border sites such as Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri.
