Farmers Movement Archive

Timeline of Trouble: Vandalism and violence during Delhi’s R-Day tractor rally

Chaotic scenes of rampage unfolded in the national capital on a day that saw India celebrate its military might at the Republic Day parade in national capital Delhi. The blame game for this violence and vandalism unleashed during the much-hyped tractor rally of farmers will haunt India for days to come. But it all began when protesting farmers broke their agreement with the Delhi police and started deviating from approved routes and started moving towards central Delhi.Here’s a brief timeline of how events unfolded during the unprecedented capital clash between jawans and farmers.7.30-9.30am:Thousands of farmers start entering Delhi from various border points in Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur after breaking police barricades10am to 12pm:Farmers clashed with Delhi Police near Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar after being stopped from deviating from the Singhu rally route. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse protestersFarmers clashed with Delhi Police personnel near Akshardham. Vehicles parked on the road and DTC buses were damagedPolice fired tear gas shells and resorted to baton charge after farmers deviated from assigned routes for the tractor rally12pm-2pm:Protesting farmers from Ghazipur reached ITO, broke police barricades; Police resorted to baton charge and tear gas shells to stop their march towards Red FortAnother group of protesters reached Red Fort; clashes between farmers and police followed at both ITO and Red FortProtesters hoisted the farmer union flags and the Nishhan Sahib, the flag of the Sikhs, on the first rampart of the iconic Red FortA farmer died after a tractor in which he was travelling turned turtle at DDU Marg. The farmers, however, claimed that he lost control after a tear gas shell hit himPost 2.30pm: Police tried to remove farmers from the ramparts of the Red Fort, resorted to mild baton chargeProtesters clashed with the police, used tractors and sticks to hit back4pm onwards:Farmer leaders distance themselves from violence and vandalism, some claim ‘anti-social’ elements hijacked peaceful protestThe Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of the 40 farmers' unions, later dissociated itself from farmers who indulged in violence and called off the tractor rally. The protest at Delhi’s borders will continue peacefully, the group said.

Hindustan Times

26-01-2021

India