Farmers Movement Archive

After 11 months, Delhi border barricades start coming down

GHAZIABAD/NEW DELHI: After 11 months, the main Ghaziabad-Delhi road link may finally be reopened as Delhi Police on Friday sent cranes and workers to the Ghazipur border to remove the barricades placed across the Delhi-Meerut Expressway to prevent agitating farmers from entering the capital. BKU leader Rajesh Tikait said their protest at the site would go on. “Delhi Police is removing the barricades on Supreme Court’s orders. We had told the court that it was the police which had blocked the road, not us,” he said. Delhi Police chief Rakesh Asthana said the decision to remove the barricades at Ghazipur and Tikri borders was taken to give a positive message following talks with farmer leaders and UP and Haryana cops. "The borders can't remain closed forever. We were in touch with various farmers' factions and leaders and discussions were also undertaken in Union ministry of home affairs. We decided that, as a positive approach, the barricades should be removed for now," said Asthana. Due to the barricades, interstate travel of people and commercial vehicles was impacted. "We hope that in future the situation will improve and normalcy is restored," said the police chief. Asked about its impact on law and order, Asthana said appropriate measures would be taken as and when required. "If any law and order situation develops, we will handle it accordingly. We will act in a graded manner. We are prepared for and can handle any situation. We want to give a message that the situation is normal," he added. On Thursday afternoon, Delhi Police started reducing the layers of security at Tikri border and the same drill was carried out at Ghazipur border on Friday. The removal of the containers and cement boulders at Tikri was a prequel to the opening of one carriageway of the arterial road. However, police said a high-powered committee constituted by the Haryana home department was looking into it. The panel would take a call on resumption of traffic on the Haryana-Delhi borders at Singhu and Tikri. Delhi Police was apprehensive about the law and order situation at the borders after the Republic Day violence this year and heavy deployment, apart from enhanced security measures, had continued there for months. Meanwhile, commenting on the recent step to form new units within Special Cell to handle jihadi and Khalistani terror modules, Asthana said, "Delhi Police has to be prepared for the future. We're making changes in the current system to make it more efficient and effective. It was imperative to reorganise and strengthen Special Cell. We have added new officers and new units to it."

The Times of India

2021-10-30

India