Farmers in Punjab are protesting after police detained nearly a thousand people during a crackdown. The protests were led by two groups: the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), who had previously organized protests against the central government.
Farmer leader Satnam Singh Pannu criticized the Punjab government, saying that instead of making promised changes, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is engaging in “politics of revenge.” Tensions rose in Faridkot as farmers attempted to block traffic, leading to confrontations with police.
In Pucca village, farmers gathered to block the Bathinda-Amritsar highway. When they refused to leave, police detained them and transported them to unknown locations, with protesters chanting anti-government slogans. A similar scene occurred in Vada Bhaika, where farmers clashed with police, resulting in the loss of some turbans during the struggle.
Around 500 farmers were detained from both villages. Farmer leader Sukhdev Singh expressed disappointment, saying they expected support from the government but faced “direct action” instead. He condemned the detention of another farmer leader, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, and claimed the government was damaging tractors at protest sites.
Police defended their actions, stating they had warned farmers against blocking highways due to the inconvenience it causes to the public. In other parts of Punjab, such as Bathinda and Gurdaspur, police managed to prevent further protests by stationing heavy forces at key locations.
In Sangrur, police detained a state leader and over 150 farmers who were protesting outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office. In Muktsar, around 200 farmers were detained while trying to block roads in response to the earlier police crackdown. Witnesses reported that police had to use mild force in some areas to disperse the crowds.
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