Farmers Movement Archive

New police fortifications have unintended effect at Ghazipur

Multiple layers of obstructions put in place to ‘box in’ farmers is ironically attracting not just more protesters but also visitors to the Ghazipur border. The strict security arrangements found mention in speeches as well as songs from the dais. Many protesters said the new layers of security have helped them fortify their own ranks over the last few days. Over a kilometer-long walk through a winding, semi-forested dirt road leads to the farmers’ protest site. Security layers include razor wire on top of rows of iron barricades, followed by rows of concrete barriers. Large spikes have also been cemented to the road. This is followed by rows of more iron barricades. Contingents of both local and commando units of the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh police as well as the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a specialised paramilitary unit for riot and crowd control contingencies, are deployed in varying numbers on either side of the stationary obstructions. “When the government has done all this, it means it has finally realised that the farmers should not be taken lightly. We were right to not leave till the laws are repealed. The government has seen the need to contain the power of our unity,” said Ranjit Dalal from Jhajjar. He said he came to the protest following an emotional appeal for support by Bhartiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait. On the flyover where farmers have erected a stage above, each side of the carriageway has a layer of five Delhi Police barricades topped with the same razor wire, another with concrete barriers below more fencing, a layer of three metal barricades with a contingent of paramilitary personnel in between, followed by another row of barricades. “I have been camping at the Singhu border but came here specially to see all the security personnel and other arrangements they have made. I saw pictures on social media but couldn’t believe it,” said Gurpreet Singh from Punjab’s Barnala. Some protesters, referred to as “elder uncles” by others, sat in a small group with the paramilitary personnel inaudibly discussing the situation. A family from neighbouring Vaishali, which said it was visiting to lend support to the farmers, accused “the government” of attempting to water down the intensity of the protest by trying to control access to it. ‘Like Pakistan border’ “I have walked 5 km just to see whether the news reports about deployment here being like that at our border with Pakistan is true. I have not been to the border but I sure have seen such security arrangements in films,” said Kiranbala Katiyar, a boutique owner with arthritis.

The Hindu

2021-02-03

Ghaziabad