Punjab Police Clear Protest Site, Detain Key Farm Union Leaders

The simmering tensions between farmers and authorities reached a boiling point this week as Punjab Police detained prominent farm leaders, including Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal, near Mohali. The crackdown followed a failed meeting between farmer unions and a central delegation led by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The Flashpoint
Farmers had been camped at the Shambhu border for weeks, demanding guaranteed crop prices and loan waivers. After talks stalled, hundreds attempted to march toward Delhi, only to be met with barricades and tear gas. On Tuesday, police moved in to dismantle tents and temporary stages, citing the need to reopen highways.

Controversial Cleanup
Videos shared online show officers removing protest materials and escorting farmers onto buses. While officials claimed the evacuation was “peaceful,” critics like Shiromani Akali Dal’s Daljit Cheema slammed the move as “undemocratic betrayal.” Punjab Minister Harpal Cheema defended the action, stating, “Protests should target Delhi, not block Punjab’s roads.”

Broader Implications
The detentions have reignited debates over farmers’ rights and state repression. With elections looming, political parties are scrambling to respond. Congress MP Charanjit Channi called the crackdown an “attack on agriculture,” while farm unions vow to regroup.

What Farmers Say
“They want to silence us, but our resolve is unshaken,” said a protester who wished to remain anonymous. As the dust settles at Shambhu, all eyes are on whether the government will return to the negotiating table—or risk another wave of unrest.