Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers block NH-2, Yamuna e-way in Mathura, Aligarh-Palwal road in Aligarh

Agra/Meerut/Bareilly: Farmers from western Uttar Pradesh (UP) blocked all the major highways leading to Delhi, including Yamuna Expressway, National Highway-2 in Mathura and the Aligarh-Palwal road in Aligarh, on Tuesday in response to the Bharat Bandh called by farmers’ organisations to protest against the Centre’s new farm laws. While most commuters remained off the road, the protesters did allow all emergency services to operate as usual. Several districts, including Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Shamli and Bijnor, witnessed heavy police and paramilitary deployment in several pockets, especially entry points to the cities and major crossings on the highways. In Meerut, several companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) were deployed in Jitauli in Kankerkhera area where farmers led by Bhartiya Kisan union (BKU) held a peaceful protest. Sensitive areas in the city were kept under drone vigil and patrolling was done by senior police officials, including ADG (zone) Rajiv Sabharwal. Police detained several Congress and Samajwadi Party workers in Mathura, Aligarh, Bareilly, Budaun, Shahjahanpur, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor and other parts of the region while some farmer leaders were put under house arrest in Agra to maintain law and order situation in the town. In Mathura, former Congress legislative party leader Pradeep Mathur along with several party workers and RLD leader Kunwar Narendra Singh was detained. In Aligarh, former MP Bijendra Singh, former MLAs Zamirullah Khan, and Zafar Aalam, and SP’s former city president Ajju Ishaq were detained. In Pilibhit, a huge assembly of farmers associated with different farmer unions blocked Pilibhit-Basti national highway 730 near Gajraula and at Sirsa crossing under Puranpur kotwali police station. The jam lasted for over four hours. The lawyers kept their legal work suspended or the day. The BKU’s Aligarh unit president, Anil Pandit, said, “We have been sitting in Delhi for the past 8 days against the three recently enacted farm laws. We want them repealed.” He said that a chakka jam was staged on the Aligarh-Palwal road but emergency vehicles were allowed. Talking to TOI, Agra SP (city) Botre Rohan Pramod said that few farmer leaders had been placed under house arrest and were later released. Mathura SSP Gaurav Grover said a total of 141 people from various political parties were detained but later released. Meerut SSP Ajay Sahni said, "We had held talks with trade associations in advance and all markets and shops were open and operating freely. Some 13-14 miscreants were arrested and sent to jail. Some farmer unions held a symbolic protest.” Meanwhile, shops were open in most parts of the region and the bandh showed a mixed response.

The Times of India

2020-12-09

Bareilly