Farmers Movement Archive

Farm laws: 3 detained by Himachal police for ‘prohibited activities’

The Himachal Pradesh police on Tuesday detained three persons who had arrived in Shimla from the Singhu border near Delhi to share their reasons for opposing the Centre’s agriculture sector laws and the purpose of the ongoing farmers’ agitation. The three were detained from the Ridge under preventive Sections 107 and 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for their alleged involvement in prohibited activities, a charge they dismissed. “Our security agencies had input on possible protests by these people and we were keeping a vigil on their movement. Once they started the prohibited activities on the Ridge — the area where any kind of procession or meeting is not allowed as per the High Court directions — they were taken into preventive custody,” Superintendent of Police, Shimla, Mohit Chawla told The Hindu . ‘No permission sought’ “They did not apply for any kind of permission from the local administration. Had they submitted a request, we would have examined it. To ensure no untoward incident, we detained them,” he said. One of three persons, while being taken away by the policemen, said their democratic right to free speech was being bulldozed. “None of us has raised any slogan. We are only three people and Article 19 of the Constitution gives us the right to express our opinion. We are only standing here. What’s the violation in that? You [Police] are finishing democracy,” he said.

The Hindu

2021-01-20

CHANDIGARH