Delhi Police Bolsters Security Amid Bharat Bandh Threats

Amidst the bustling city of New Delhi, heightened vigilance ensues as the Delhi Police fortify security in response to the resonating call for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), as conveyed by officials on the eve of Friday. Potential disruptions in traffic flow within the national capital loom large, marked by strategically placed barricades in various precincts, a precautionary measure implemented by the police.

The SKM, fervently advocating for the acceptance of farmers’ requisites, notably the legal assurance of the minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce, has declared the ‘Bharat Bandh.’ The narrative unfolds as farmers from Punjab embarked on their ‘Delhi Chalo’ expedition on Tuesday, only to be impeded by vigilant security personnel stationed at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points straddling the Delhi-Haryana corridor.

A steadfast encampment by the protesting farmers at these border points now marks the fourth day of their persistent demonstration. The thoroughfares linking Delhi and Haryana remain sealed off, a consequence of the heavy deployment of security forces bedecked in anti-riot attire. The border closure, albeit a necessity, has ushered in hardships for commuters navigating specific stretches.

While traffic movement is permitted at the Ghazipur border adjoining Uttar Pradesh, the central precincts leading to the Parliament and other critical zones witness an augmented police presence, evident in the array of barricades. In light of the impending ‘Bharat Bandh,’ Delhi Police remains on high alert, a testament to their unwavering commitment to maintain law and order.

A seasoned police official forewarns of potential disruptions in citywide traffic flow due to the looming bandh. The prolonged negotiations between three Union ministers and the leaders of the protesting farmer unions on Thursday night concluded inconclusively. The upcoming fourth round of talks, scheduled for Sunday, promises yet another attempt to find common ground.

Undeterred, the farmer leaders have declared their intent to persist at the two border points demarcating Punjab and Haryana. Stringent security measures are visibly in place at Singhu and Tikri borders, featuring multiple tiers of barricades, barbed wires, and formidable concrete obstructions, strategically orchestrated to impede any ingress into the national capital.

The thoroughfare known as GT Karnal Road, proximate to Mukarba Chowk, witnessed a surge in vehicular congestion during the initial three days of the protest. This surge was attributed to the imposition of barricades and cement blocks strategically placed by the police.

Delhi Police, keen on monitoring the situation at the Singhu border, has incorporated drone technology into their surveillance arsenal. Additionally, an order for over 30,000 teargas shells has been placed with the Border Security Force’s (BSF) Tear Smoke Unit.

Beyond the clamor for MSP assurance, the farmers’ demands extend to the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, provision of pensions for farmers and farm laborers, the alleviation of farm debts, a freeze on electricity tariff hikes, withdrawal of pending police cases, and redress for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Furthermore, the reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation for the families of farmers who succumbed during the previous agitation in 2020-21 constitute the multifaceted spectrum of their advocacy.