After the 26 January aggravation at the Republic Day, the police and security authorities in Delhi have started taking action against the leaders of the Famer Unions. The violence in the capital rose to unprecedented heights after a surge of people ransacked protests sites. The tractor rally, which was supposed to be peaceful and adhere to the set route, took a violent turn and resulted in multiple deaths of people and police personnel.
The security forces were simply outnumbered by the sheer population of the people present at the tractor rally on 26th January. However, the security forces did try to contain the spread and detour of the rally but failed to make any mark as it later witnessed a sea of people storming the Red Fort. Unprecedented as it was, the large group of protesters climbed up atop of flag poles to mount the religious flags they were carrying with themselves. A Khalistani flag was also alleged amongst them.
As the day concluded and security controlled the situation, many farmer leaders saw this whole fiasco as a huge negative impact on their pursuit of repealing the three farm bills. Some leaders even took the blame on them of this failure while some swept their hands clean by claiming that they had nothing to do with the people involved in violence.
Here is what has happened since:
Amit Shah to meet injured Delhi Police cops
Two days after the violent clashes with the agitating farmers during the 'Kisan Gantantra Parade' in which several police personnel were injured, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit two hospitals in the national capital here to meet them.According to the officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs officials, Shah will be visiting the Sushruta Trauma Centre and Tirath Ram Hospital, both in the Civil Line area, to meet the injured policemen.
According to official figures, 394 police personnel were injured in the violence. Most of them are hospitalised while some are in the ICU. More than 25 criminal cases have been registered, 19 accused have been arrested and as many as 50 protesters detained.
On Wednesday, Shah had chaired a high-level meeting with Delhi Police Commissioner S.N. Shrivastava, Intelligence Bureau Director and CRPF Director-General.
On Tuesday also, after the violent clashes in several parts of the national capital, the Home Minister held an emergency meeting with the top officials at his residence.
According to sources, the Home Secretary, Director Intelligence Bureau and senior officers of the Delhi Police were present at the meeting.
Delhi Police has so far registered 25 cases against 37 farmer leaders in connection with the violence on the occasion of Republic Day. These leaders include Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav, social activist Medha Patkar and Bharatiya Kisan Union's Haryana unit President Gurnam Singh Chanduni.
The police have also registered a case against Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu and the gangster-turned-social activist Lakha Sidhana in the Red Fort violence case.
On Wednesday, while addressing a press conference the Delhi Police Commissioner said that police has taken a serious note of the Red Fort violence and everyone found involved would be taken to task.
He also said that the face recognition system would be used to identify those found involved in the violence.
Accused of instigation capital chaos, Deep Sidhu goes missing
Punjabi actor turned activist Deep Sidhu has gone missing ever since the violent spree on the Red Fort that resulted in a complete takeover of the national building by the farmers. The leaders have been continuously blaming Sidhu for the uncontrolled crowd that sprung into the Fort on Republic Day.Sidhu was seen in several videos from the same day, one particular, in which he was seen jumping and driving away on his bike after the farmers chased him off of the place.
Facing a severe backlash from all over the groups, Sidhu has not made a public appearance for two days and has been absconding due to the FIR by Delhi Police.
Farmers put off February 1 Parliament march
Farmers leaders have collectively decided on Wednesday to drop the plan of 'Sansad March' (Parliament march), supposed to take place on 1st February due to the extraordinary scenario that took place on the Republic Day at their tractor rally. The farmers had announced earlier that they would march to the parliament together to mark another sign of their protest against the three farlaws.
February 1st is also the day when Union Finance Minister will unveil the new Budget. Before addressing the media, the unions discussed the violent incidents and leaders felt that the Centre has been "shaken" by the agitation. It was also said that when farm organizations announced the January 26 programme, elements like Deep Sidhu and KMSC attempted to torpedo the agitation. It was claimed that KMSC announced a march on Ring Road.
“Since we as members of the SKM gave the call for the parade, we are taking the moral responsibility of the incidents that had happened on Republic Day,” said Yogendra Yadav of Jai Kisan Andolan. He said, “We have not cancelled the ‘Sansad March’. We have just postponed it. It'll be held later. Our movement will continue till our core demands (repeal of farm laws and legal guarantee to MSP) are met.”
The Morcha leaders also claimed that only 10% of farmers in the movement turned rogue and deviated from the designated route, mostly at the behest of the KMSC and certain individuals, while 90% others stuck to their designated route and participated in the parade in a peaceful manner.
Medha Patkar, Yogendra Yadav among 37 named in FIR, to be probed under UAPA and sedition
The Delhi Police have named 37 farmer leaders, including Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav, social activist Medha Patkar and Bharatiya Kisan Union's Haryana unit President Gurnam Singh Chanduni, in the FIR filed in connection with the violence during the Republic Day tractor rally on Tuesday.Avik Saha, Jai Kisan Aandolan and Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait along with Darshan Pal Singh, Satnam Singh Pannu, Boota Singh Burjgil and Joginder Singh Ugraha have also been named in the FIR.
The case against them was registered under various sections of Indian Penal Code including 147, 148 (related to rioting), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 307 (attempt to murder). Later, the Unlawful (Activities) Prevention Act (UAPA) and IPC Section 124A Sedition were also registered. The entire situation is now going to be probed under the lens of these two laws as well.
According to official figures, 394 policemen were injured in the violence. Most of them are hospitalised while some are in the ICU. More than 25 criminal cases have been registered, 19 people have been arrested and as many as 50 protesters detained.
A day after pitched clashes between farmers and police as the tractor parade drove into areas other than those permitted, Delhi Police Commissioner S.N. Shrivastava on Wednesday said that it was a breach of trust by the protesters and those involved in the violence would not be spared.
Shrivastava said that some "aggressive elements" led the protest and created ruckus and violence.
"The violent protesters broke the barricades and reached Mukarba Chowk and their leaders, Satnam Singh Pannu and Darshan Pal Singh, sat there and did not move to the designated route. Pannu also gave a provocative speech there and instigated the protesters to break barricades," he said.
Other farmer leaders including Boota Singh Burjgil were also indulged in violence, the police said, while Rakesh Tikait along with other protestors were involved in violence at the Gazipur border.
He said that the Delhi Police has taken serious note of the Red Fort violence and everyone found involved would be taken to task. He also said that the face recognition system would be used to identify those found involved in the violence.
Meanwhile, he also visited the hospital and met the injured policemen on Wednesday.
How swift action of constable saved cop from sword attack
He stood firm and looked straight in the eye of the old man in a turban who raised his sword above his head, ready to strike him, at the NH-24 on January 26. Delhi Police Sub-Inspector Dayachand's photo went viral where he is seen facing an angry protester with a raised sword.Dayachand who was posted in Mandawali police station of East Delhi was on duty at NH-24 as hundreds of protesters swarmed in and started attacking the picket staff on duty.
Just as the sword was about to hit Dayachand, constable Nitin who was witnessing the confrontation acted with lightning speed and blocked the blow of the sword with his baton.
"It was horrific. As I saw the man with the sword attacking my senior SI Dayachand, I blocked his sword with my baton wasting no time. The sword hit my baton. Then the angry mob turned towards me and attacked me," said Nitin, also posted at Mandawali police station in east Delhi.
Nitin recalls how the angry protesters then hit him with lathis and blows till he fell down. Other policemen later came to his rescue and took him and Dayachand to safety.
The Delhi Police has started the search for the protester with the sword and his photographs are being circulated to get some information on him. A man with a sword was also seen standing at the picket in east Delhi on the barricades.
"Action will be taken against all those indulging in illegal acts," said Deepak Yadav, DCP, East Delhi.
On January 26, as the farmers' protest took an ugly turn as thousands of protesters entered the capital, clashes between police and protesters were seen in several parts of Delhi near the border areas and in the heart of the city at ITO and Red Fort.
Heavy police deployment at Ghazipur protest site
There was heavy deployment of security personnel at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur border, where farmers from Uttar Pradesh have been protesting against the three farm laws for last two months.Meanwhile, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait, who has been named in the Delhi Police FIR for the January 26 violence during the 'Kisan Gantantra parade' also made his appearance at the site and said that he will raise the issue of snapping of water and electricity supply at the site with the administration.
On Thursday afternoon, there was a heavy deployment of Delhi Police, Uttar Pradesh Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Rapid Action Force in the area.
The police also pressed drones for surveillance at the Ghazipur protest site, where the farmers have been sitting on protest against the three farm laws since November last year.
Addressing media, Tikait said: "I will meet the police and administration as they have cut the electricity supply and also stopped the drinking water facility since last night. And when there is no electricity and water supply, then it will affect our movement."
The Ghazipur protest site has seen several people leaving the protest site after the January 26 violence at several places in the national capital.
On Thursday, there were around 500 farmers and over 100 tractors, against the thousands there for last two months.
Ghaziabad admin ordered to get Ghazipur protest cleared
The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered the district administrations to get all the farmers protest site on the state's borders with Delhi vacated, officials said on Thursday.The orders came two days after violence during the 'Kisan Gantantra parade' on the occasion of the Republic Day at several locations in the national capital.
The farmers at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh Ghazipur border had been sitting on protest against the three farm laws since November 26 last year, demanding the repeal of the three farm laws and ensuring the minimum support price (MSP) for their produce.
A senior police official wishing not to be named told IANS: "Yes, we have received orders from the government to get all the farmers protest site on the borders of the state vacated."
Earlier in the day, there was heavy deployment of security personnel, comprising the Uttar Pradesh and Delhi Police, the Central Reserve Police Force and the Rapid Action Force at the Ghazipur protest site.
The farmers have blocked the Delhi-Meerut highway from one side since November 26 last year.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait, who has been named in the FIR by the Delhi Police in connection with the Republic Day violence also made a presence at the Ghazipur border, after going underground for last two days.
A team of senior officials of the Ghaziabad police and administration also arrived at the Ghazipur border to apprehend him.
Delhi police lists 30 vehicles in FIR, launches hunt for owners
The Delhi police has listed 30 vehicles including tractors in an FIR against those who violated the route permission and said a manhunt to arrest their owners had begun.According to police the vehicles violated the route permission and their occupants started rioting and made murderous attacks on police personnel deployed on official duty on January 26.
The police said that the protesters snatched pistols, ammunition and even gas guns from the police personnel on duty.
The Delhi police departments like Crime Branch and Special Cell have started collecting evidence against the violent protesters and those named in the FIR through video and CCTV footage captured on January 26 when violence broke out as the tractor rally of the farmers broke through into the national capital.
The police have now started collecting video recordings made by the police staff on the day of the protest as well as other mobile cameras and footage that was aired on TV to get visual evidence against the violent protesters.
The Delhi Police have named 37 farmer leaders, including Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav, social activist Medha Patkar and Bharatiya Kisan Union's Haryana unit President Gurnam Singh Chanduni, in the FIR filed in connection with the violence during the Republic Day tractor rally.
Avik Saha, Jai Kisan Aandolan and Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait along with Darshan Pal Singh, Satnam Singh Pannu, Boota Singh Burjgil and Joginder Singh Ugraha have also been named in the FIR.
The case against them was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including 147, 148 (related to rioting), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 307 (attempt to murder).
A 'Look Out Circular' has also been issued against the farmer leaders.
According to official figures, 394 policemen were injured in the violence. Most of them are hospitalised while some are in the ICU. More than 25 criminal cases have been registered, 19 people have been arrested and as many as 50 protesters detained.
UAPA slapped on R-Day rioters, Special Cell takes over probe
The Special Cell of Delhi Police on Thursday took over the investigation into the violence that broke out in the national capital on R-Day after the proposed tractor rally by the farmers went awry, and slapped the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on the rioters, besides invoking sections of the IPC dealing with sedition.The move came a day after more than 25 FIRs were registered against the farmers involved in the violent clashes with the police that marred the Republic Day celebrations on Tuesday, leaving one farmer dead and 394 policemen injured.
"The Special Cell is investigating the conspiracy and the criminal design behind the unfortunate events that unfolded on January 26. A criminal case has been registered and is being investigated under the provisions of the UAPA and sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with sedition," said a statement issued by the Delhi Police.
Delhi Police Commissioner S.N. Shrivatsava had on Wednesday made the announcement that 25 FIRs have been registered till then by the force in connection with the violence.
Protesters cornered at Singhu border, key routes blocked
In view of the tensed situation at the Singhu border, the protesters camping at the site have been cornered to a designated area near the central stage, while the key routes connecting Delhi and Haryana around the border were blocked on Thursday.Several routes connecting both Delhi and Haryana to the Singhu border were also closed by the Delhi police and para military forces. Besides, barricades have also been put up to disperse the protesters.
"We have stepped up arrangements to prevent any untoward incident at the Singhu border. The shops adjoining the border were also forced to shut," said a senior Delhi police officer.
Two days after the violence broke out in the national capital, local residents around the Singhu border on Thursday demanded that farmers should vacate the protest site.
Some locals from Bakhtawar Pur and Hamidpur villages were seen agitating against the farmers at the border.
Singhu appeared a little subdued, a lot emptier as the deployment of the additional police force made the situation more tensed and charged up. Apprehensions were raised about a possible action by cops on the protesters as the news from Ghazipur border too reached Singhu about the mounting pressure by the Uttar Pradesh police.
Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at various border points of Delhi for over two month now against the Centre's three farm laws.
