Farmers call for 'Chakka Jam', security beefed up

Farmers have been protesting against agricultural laws for more than two months on Delhi's borders. After the tractor parade on Republic Day, organizations have announced a nationwide chakka jam today to give a further edge to the farmer movement. This drive of farmers is supported by many parties including Congress.

The 'Chakka Jam' by the farmers is scheduled to take place for three hours, between 12 noon and to 3 pm.

The orders were issued after a high level meeting on Thursday which was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by NSA Ajit Doval, city Commissioner of Police SN Shrivastavaand others.

In the meeting, the security arrangements ahead of Saturday's 'chakka jam' by farmer unions was reviewed and it was emphasised that there should not be a repeat of the Republic Day violence.

However, Chakka Jam will not have an impact in the capital Delhi. The protesting farmers have said that there will be no traffic jam in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand today.

Farmers will block national and state highways in other parts of the country peacefully for three hours.

The ‘chakka jam’, has been called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of 40 farmer unions protesting the farm laws. This is response to the Union Budget 2021 that is said to have “ignored” the demands of farmers and the internet ban imposed by the central government at various protest sites bordering the national capital.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha has directed protesters to allow emergency and essential services like ambulances and school buses to pass during chakka jam.

Keeping in mind the violence that took place during farmers tractor march on January 26 in the national capital security has been beefed up at places of national significance like the Parliament, the India Gate.

Security at the farmers’ protest sites at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders have been stepped up with multilayered barricading using barbed wiring on top, concrete walls, trenches, nails boards drilled onto roads and netting to stop pelted stones. Heavy deployment of security personnel armed with anti-riot gear has also been done to stop the agitators from entering the Capital. 

Nearly 15,000 personnel of the paramilitary forces of Rapid Action Force (RAF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) – all armed with anti-riot equipment – will be on duty along with thousands of Delhi Police personnel to maintain law and order during the ‘chakka jam’, officers told HT. 

The Delhi Police is coordinating with the police force in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to ensure that there are no incidents of violence during 'chakka Jam' and there is minimum inconvenience to general public, Amit Shah was informed.

The Gurugram police have intensified security and deployed huge force on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway (NH-48), Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway, Kheri Daula toll plaza on the NH-48 and state highways.

All the Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) and Deputy Commissioners of police (DCPs) have been asked to ensure patrolling in their respective areas. Police presence have been increased along the border areas and near the Kheri Daula toll plaza.

The police said that the Delhi-Jaipur Highway and the KMP Expressway are lifelines for the daily commuters. If these two stretches are disturbed for a few minutes, it will affect many other areas. In view of this, the Gurugram police have depolyed force along with the stretch.

Apart from this, special instructions have been issued to the police force to keep a vigil on suspicious elements.

"Policemen have been deployed in all the crowded areas, including the Sadar Bazar. The police strength has also been increased around the Metro stations, railway stations and bus stands to maintain law and order," Rao said.