New Delhi: Dozens of protesting farmers were detained en route to Delhi as they resumed their Delhi Chalo” march on Wednesday. This further delayed their plan to converge on the capital to demand higher crop prices, protest leaders were quoted as saying.
Even as no buses or trucks carrying agitating farmers entered the Delhi borders, heavy traffic jams were witnessed on Wednesday at different city borders as well as some arterial roads in view of the farmer unions’ call for “Delhi chalo” march.
Commuters said that the vehicular movement was affected mainly due to heavy deployment of the police personnel at the borders, railway stations and ISBTs, as well as pickets and barricades placed by the police at various points across the city.
The checking of vehicles at several spots led to traffic jams on at least 20 locations including Rohini, Shalimar Bagh, Darya Ganj, Anand Vihar, Patparganj, Mayur Vihar, Minto Road, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, Sansad Marg and Civil Lines, besides the roads connecting to different railway stations and bus stands on Wednesday.
A senior Delhi Police officer said that inputs were received that various farmer union leaders, under the banners of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kissan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) had asked their supporters from all over India to reach New Delhi by buses, trains and other means of transport and gather at Jantar Mantar for a massive protest.
“Till 6pm Wednesday, the police have not detained any protesters from the bus stands, police stations and border check posts. No buses or trucks carrying the agitators were found entering Delhi. As a precautionary measure to maintain law and order and security situation in Delhi, adequate forces have been deployed across the city, including ISBTs and railway stations. Keeping in mind the apprehension that the protesters may be involved in showing anti-national graffiti or painting walls, staff were deployed near all bus stands, railway stations and Metro stations to tackle the agitators professionally,” said a police officer involved in the deployment plan who asked not to be named.
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