New Delhi: With the announcement of withdrawal of the 378-day long farmers' protest by the Samyukta Kisan Union (SKM), agitators were seen dismantling tents and collecting their items from Singhu border along the national capital on Thursday.
Despite SKM giving a call for their departure from December 11, farmers and protesters were also seen packing their belongings as some of them even started leaving the Ghazipur border.
The announcement to call off the farmers' protest came earlier in the day after SKM received an official letter from Centre, accepting the pending demands of farmers, including unconditional withdrawal of police cases against the protesters.
Meanwhile, farmer leaders have said that there would be a review meeting of the SKM leaders at Singhu Border again on January 15 to assess if the government has lived up to its words.
Farmers Dismantle Tents, Load Daily Use Items Into Trucks
Farmers were seen dismantling their tents, packing their bags and loading daily use items into trucks from the protest sites in order to prepare for their journey back home. A victory march has been called on December 11.
Even at the Ghazipur borders, visuals of machines like bread makers and milk boilers were seen being removed with many protesters starting their journey back home today itself.
They said it will take a few more days to remove the temporary structures and accommodations at the Ghazipur site.
High with emotions, protesters at the sites also said that they would celebrate their victory and will also light 'diyas' (candles) for those who lost their lives during the protest before they leave the place.
Farmers Happy As Their Struggle Is Over
"We used to come here in groups of 15. Today, we are loading our things like fans, coolers and air conditioners. We will leave on December 11 after the victory march," a farmer from Punjab's Moga who had been stationed at Singhu border for the last one year told news agency PTI.
He, however, expressed grief over the death of almost 700 farmers during the movement, adding that he is happy that their struggle has borne fruit.
"It took 10 people around two hours to dismantle everything. There were 19 of us who had come here and six of us are left now, while others have gone back. We used to come here for 10 days and then go back and then return. We are going to be celebrating our victory and then go back to our homes," a 60-year-old protester from Punjab said.
Farmers also said that they won't sleep on Thursday night and will celebrate their hard-earned victory.