Farmers call off Delhi march after police use tear gas at Shambhu border

Farmers marching towards Delhi under the banners of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha were forced to call off their protest after Haryana Police fired tear gas at them near the Shambhu border. Several farmers, including leaders, sustained injuries during the clashes on Friday.

A group of 101 farmers, referred to as a ‘jatha,’ began their march on foot at 1 PM, carrying union flags and chanting slogans. They were stopped a few meters from their starting point by multiple barricades set up by the Haryana government. Security personnel cited a prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to halt the march, stating they lacked permission to proceed.

In response to the protest, the Haryana government suspended mobile internet and bulk SMS services in 11 villages of Ambala district until December 9. Villages under the ban include Dangdehri, Lohgarh, and Devi Nagar, among others. Additionally, the Ambala district administration imposed Section 144, restricting the unlawful assembly of five or more persons.

Despite the heavy security measures, some farmers managed to push down barricades and remove iron nails embedded on National Highway-44. However, they were unable to advance further due to water cannons and reinforced barricades.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, who labeled the participating farmers as ‘marjeevras’ (those willing to die for a cause), criticized the government’s actions, calling them a violation of democratic rights. “We are only marching on foot to demand what was promised to us—MSP guarantees. Stopping us shows the government’s moral defeat,” Pandher stated.

Farmers have been demanding a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) of crops—a promise made by the government in 2021. Despite camping at border points between Punjab and Haryana since February, their calls for dialogue remain unmet. The groups involved have vowed to continue their struggle for justice.