Police resorted to firing tear gas shells at protesting farmers at Haryana's Shambhu border as they headed towards Delhi as part of the 'Delhi Chalo' march seeking a law on minimum support price (MSP) as one of their key demands among others. The farmers decided to carry on with their protest after talks with the Centre ended in a logjam.
The police have ramped up security at all borders to prevent entry of farmers into the capitals. Visuals showed nails, barbed wires, concrete walls installed at several of the crucial borders with Haryana, UP and Punjab which will be routes taken by the protesting farmers for their march.
Farmers were also seen vandalising safety barriers on a flyover at the Shambhu border as they marched towards Delhi with more ammo for the second time after two years.
"Stones were pelted at Haryana police by protesters. To control the situation, tear gas shells were being used," said a Haryana police spokesperson.
"No one will be allowed to create disturbance. Those doing so will be dealt with strictly," the spokesperson said, asserting that "the situation is completely under control".
Last time the the year-long protest by the farmers kept several entry points to Delhi jammed as the farmers camped there for months. However, the protest saw the rollback of the three farm laws. This time around the farmers are demanding a law on the minimum support price among others. On Tuesday, farmers held talks with the Centre which ended in a stalemate, but the government expressed hope of a peaceful resolution. Meanwhile, massive security arrangements have been put in place in and around the nation capital to keep the situation under control.