Farmers Movement Archive

Cops had no option but to use teargas: MHA to Lok Sabha

New Delhi: The home ministry told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that Delhi Police had no option but to use tear gas, water cannons and mild force for crowd control after large convoys of protesting farmers riding on tractors and tractor trolleys broke police barricades to forcibly enter Delhi on January 26 and resorted to rioting and use of criminal force to deter public servants from discharging their duty. Stating that the rioting and chaos by farmers at multiple locations in the national Capital inflicted injuries on many Delhi Police personnel, minister of state for home G Kishan Reddy, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, quoted Delhi Police to say that apart from indulging in rioting, the protesting farmers violated social distancing norms by gathering in large numbers without face masks amid the pandemic. “The farmers’ actions left Delhi Police with no option but to use tear gas, water cannons and mild force to control the crowd,” he said, adding that Delhi Police had informed MHA that 39 cases were registered against farmers protesting against the farm laws between September and December 2020. He added that Delhi Police had further informed that one suicide case was reported during the farmers’ protests at Delhi’s borders. A protester was killed during the violence on January 26 after his tractor overturned after hitting a police barricade. Meanwhile, MoS (home) Nityanand Rai, responding to another Lok Sabha question on the number of farmers who had died during the agitation, said ‘police’ and ‘public order’ were state subjects and the responsibility of investigation, registration and prosecution of crimes, conviction of accused and protection of life and property rested primarily with state governments. Asked specifically if the Centre had any evidence of terrorist outfits infiltrating the farmers’ agitation, he merely said the central government kept a constant watch on activities of individuals and organisations having a bearing on national security and public order, through its security and law enforcement agencies. “Requisite action is taken as per law, whenever necessary,” he said. Delhi Police functions under the direct supervision and control of the home ministry. Yet, Reddy on Tuesday seemed to suggest that the Centre’s role was limited to issuing alerts and advisories to the law enforcement agencies whenever any threat to internal security was perceived. Also, he said the Centre was providing central armed police forces upon request from the state government.

The Times of India

2021-02-02

Delhi