Tear gas shells were lobbed and water cannons were used on farmer union members at the Chandigarh-Mohali border on Friday afternoon after the police stopped protesters moving towards Chandigarh to protest over long-standing issues of Punjab. The farmer leaders were demanding MSP on crops, adequate water supply for fields and transfer of UT to Punjab.
The protesting farmers were stopped on the border after they moved towards Governor’s house. The confrontation escalated when a few youths tried to force their way through the barricades on tractors.
Around 24 farmers were reportedly detained by Chandigarh police and several injured in the lathicharge.
Irate farmer leaders, including Balbir Singh Rajewal and Ugrahan, announced to burn effigies of the Governor and the BJP across Punjab. Farmer leaders announced a meeting of all union bodies on May 21 to chart the next course of action against the BJP.
The protesters announced that they would stage a sit-in at the site till all the detained protesters are released.
UT SSP Kanwardeep Kaur reached the spot and tried to negotiate with the farmers after the incident but they refused to engage in talks.
