Farmers in ਪੰਜਾਬ are protesting after ਪੁਲਿਸ detained nearly a thousand ਲੋਕ 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 ਸਰਕਾਰ.
Farmer leader Satnam Singh Pannu criticized the ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ, saying that instead of making promised changes, ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ Bhagwant Mann is engaging in “politics of revenge.” Tensions rose in Faridkot as farmers attempted to block traffic, leading to confrontations with ਪੁਲਿਸ.
In Pucca ਪਿੰਡ, farmers gathered to block the Bathinda-Amritsar highway. When they refused to leave, ਪੁਲਿਸ detained them and transported them to unknown locations, with protesters chanting anti-ਸਰਕਾਰ slogans. A similar scene occurred in Vada Bhaika, where farmers clashed with ਪੁਲਿਸ, 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 ਸਰਕਾਰ but faced “direct action” instead. He condemned the detention of another farmer leader, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, and claimed the ਸਰਕਾਰ was damaging tractors at protest sites.
ਪੁਲਿਸ defended their actions, stating they had warned farmers against blocking highways due to the inconvenience it causes to the public. In other parts of ਪੰਜਾਬ, such as Bathinda and Gurdaspur, ਪੁਲਿਸ managed to prevent further protests by stationing heavy forces at key locations.
In Sangrur, ਪੁਲਿਸ 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 ਪੁਲਿਸ crackdown. Witnesses reported that ਪੁਲਿਸ had to use mild force in some areas to disperse the crowds.
