Farmers Movement Archive

At Chilla, Noida cops step in to keep rally in order

NOIDA: More than 800 farmers were marching peacefully from the Chilla border and had just reached the Crowne Plaza signal in Mayur Vihar Phase 1 when they saw a row of barricades. Angered at being stopped just a kilometre into Delhi, some of the farmers on tractors ran over the barricades, leading to a confrontation with paramilitary forces who had been stationed there. On Monday, police in Delhi had asked the farmers to travel till the Crowne Plaza signal, take a turn towards Ashok Nagar and return to the Chilla border. But the farmers had objected to the route, asking what good it would serve them to enter just a kilometre into the national capital. On Tuesday, the 800-odd farmers, led by the state president of BKU-Bhanu, Yogesh Pratap Singh, began the march around 12.10pm and reached the Crowne Plaza signal when they saw the barricades. This was followed by a small confrontation, after which the farmers continued their march till the Mayur Vihar Phase 1 cut. When the situation turned combative, a team of Noida cops walked in front of the farmers. The protesters then returned to Chilla around 12.55pm. However, after reaching the Chilla border, the farmers blocked the Delhi-Noida carriageway of the Link Road, alleging the cops had misbehaved with them. “We had promised to march peacefully and not break the barricades on Republic Day. But they (police) did not let us go further. We had opened the road (Delhi-Noida carriageway) for traffic after the police requested us. But now they have put up barricades here. Across UP, the police are stopping our tractors,” said Yogesh. Traffic remained choked on the road for about three hours. Around 3pm, a group of Noida police officers, led by additional DCP Ranvijay Singh, spoke to the farmers and requested them to free up the road. The farmers reportedly told the Noida cops they would vacate the road only if their supporters were not stopped anywhere in the state and cases and notices slapped against the farmers were withdrawn. Somewhat calmed after the talks, the farmers gave roses to the additional DCP and vacated the road. Manoj Nagar, national general secretary of BKU-Bhanu, said the Noida police team assured the farmers they would ensure their demands reached the DGP headquarters.

The Times of India

2021-01-27

Noida