Farmers Movement Archive

Police retreat as barricades fall

Hundreds of farmers riding tractors and marching on foot broke away from the pre-set route for the “tractor parade” from the Tikri border to enter central Delhi on Tuesday, after several hours of pitched battle with the police. The road under the Nangloi flyover turned into a virtual battleground, witnessing clashes between farmers and the police for a large part of the day. The police resorted to several rounds of tear gas shelling to stop the farmers from deviating from the parade route before giving up after several hours of effort. Tensions began to build-up around noon after a handful of youth riding tractors refused to turn right from under the Nangloi flyover towards Baprola village on the pre-approved route and insisted on going towards the Peeragarhi Chowk. Initially, a dozen tractors in ones and twos managed to break through the barricades, but by evening, the farmers threw open all barriers to march ahead in large numbers. Chased by the protesters armed with lathis, the policemen were seen taking shelter in alleys in the surrounding colonies. The police also made a brief attempt to stop the farmers at Peeragarhi Chowk in the evening by parking Delhi Transport Corporation buses to block their way, but later removed them. As the evening wore on, a few farmers in tractors began returning to the Tikri border, turning Peeragarhi Chowk into a complete traffic mess. A large number of people, including women and children, were lined on both sides of the road leading to Peeragarhi Chowk from the Tikri border as well as the flyover over the junction to witness the parade, cheer the farmers and capture the moment on their mobile phones. “It is historic. So I brought both my children along to see it,” said Rakesh Bhardwaj on of the on-lookers. The crowd on the flyover waved and cheered the farmers as they went past the intersection. Many stopped the farmers to garland them, shower rose petalsand give water bottles.

The Hindu

2021-01-27

NEW DELHI