After Ambala and Hansi, Haryana Police Braces for Farmer Protest at Khanauri
Chandigarh: Haryana Police is preparing for a possible confrontation at the Khanauri border as farmers from Haryana and Punjab begin a march towards Delhi to protest against the proposed India-US trade deal.
The situation is being closely monitored after recent police action during protests in Ambala and Hansi, adding to concerns about how authorities will handle the latest farmer mobilisation.
Farmers Begin ‘Kisan Bachao Padyatra’
The latest protest is being organised by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) under farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal.
The group has launched its ‘Kisan Bachao Padyatra’ from Datasinghwala village in Punjab, with the march scheduled to move towards Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
According to the announced programme, the initial group includes 51 farmers. Before beginning their foot march, the participants are carrying soil from the site where farmer Shubhkaran Singh died during the 2024 farmers’ agitation.
The march is expected to begin at around 3 pm.
Khanauri Border Becomes Flashpoint Again
The Khanauri border, located between Jind in Haryana and Sangrur in Punjab, has once again become a sensitive point.
Authorities have installed barricades and introduced traffic restrictions to prevent protesters travelling from Punjab from entering Haryana.
Khanauri already holds deep significance for farmers because of the events of February 2024, when 21-year-old Shubhkaran Singh, from Balloh village in Bathinda district, died after suffering a head injury during clashes between protesting farmers and security forces.
Farmer groups had alleged that Shubhkaran was killed in police firing, while the circumstances surrounding his death became a subject of dispute. His death subsequently became one of the defining moments of the 2024 farmers’ protest.
Two years later, the same border is again at the centre of a farmer mobilisation.
Police Step Up Preparations
The latest developments come after two recent episodes of police action in Haryana.
In Ambala, Sikh protesters faced police action while demonstrating, an incident that drew attention in neighbouring Punjab amid heightened sensitivities over Sikh and panthic issues.
In Hansi, protesters seeking justice in the murder of a local youth also faced police action. The use of force during the demonstration raised questions over the handling of the protest by Haryana Police.
With the memories of these incidents still fresh, authorities are taking additional precautions as farmers approach Khanauri.
Traffic Diversions Announced
Jind Police has clarified that there is no blanket closure of roads across the district.
Jind Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Singh said that only vehicles travelling between Punjab and Haryana through the Khanauri border have been diverted to alternative routes.
According to police, other major routes across Jind district remain operational. Traffic arrangements are also being monitored continuously to minimise inconvenience to commuters.
The situation at Khanauri is expected to remain under close watch as the farmers continue their march towards Delhi.
With barricades already in place and memories of the 2024 farmers’ agitation still strong, the administration’s response in the coming hours could prove crucial in determining whether the latest mobilisation remains peaceful or develops into another confrontation.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
