Following the announcement by ਪੰਜਾਬ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ Bhagwant Singh Mann, authorities at Central Jail Patiala released 450 detained farmers early Tuesday morning. The farmers had been arrested last week during a ਪੁਲਿਸ crackdown on dharna sites in Shambhu and Khanauri.
Supporters and members of farmer unions had gathered outside the jail on Monday evening to welcome the released farmers. However, they had to wait for more than 12 hours as jail officials explained that certain formalities needed to be completed before the farmers could be freed. It was only around 5 am on Tuesday that the farmers were finally released.
Earlier on Monday, Inspector General of ਪੁਲਿਸ (IGP) Headquarters Sukhchain Singh Gill had announced that the ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ had already released approximately 800 farmers from ਪੁਲਿਸ custody. He further stated that the ਸਰਕਾਰ, under the directive of the ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ, had prioritized the release of farmers, including women, differently-abled individuals, those with medical conditions, and those over the age of 60.
