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Bharat Bandh: Protesting farmers disperse from Delhi-Noida border
Around 100 protesting farmers had blocked both carriageways at the Chilla border around 11.45am
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Around 150 Delhi Police personnel armed with anti-riot equipment such as water cannons, tear gas guns and shells were deployed at Chilla on the Delhi-Noida border on Friday morning in a bid to prevent over 100 agitating farmers from crossing over to the national capital from Greater Noida following nationwide protest call given by various farmer associations against the farm bills passed by Parliament earlier this week. The protests led to traffic disruptions around the border.
However, later in the day, Jasmeet Singh, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), (east), Delhi Police, who was present at the Delhi-Noida border to supervise deployment and security arrangements in the national capital, said the farmers dispersed peacefully after 2pm.
“Around 100 protesting farmers had blocked both carriageways at the Chilla border around 11.45am. A police arrangement and traffic diversion plan was already in place in anticipation at the border. They dispersed peacefully at 2:20pm. Traffic is normal now at Chilla border,” he said.
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Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police authorities spoke with the leaders of the farmers’ groups in Noida, said Alok Kumar, joint commissioner of police (JCP), (eastern range), Delhi Police.
The farmers were apprised about the guidelines of Unlock 4, which prohibits any kind of mass gathering or protests across the country, including the national capital, owing to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
“We are also trying to keep a strict vigil on other interstate borders through which the protestors may attempt to sneak in,” said a senior Delhi Police officer on condition of anonymity.
The deployment of Delhi Police personnel at Alipur on the Delhi-Haryana border is minimal.
Opposition parties and farmers’ organisations are unhappy about the passage of The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 by Parliament earlier this week.
The bills are awaiting an assent from President Ram Nath Kovind.
