Punjab government cites violence intel for farmers' eviction

The Punjab government defended its actions to clear farmers from the Khanauri and Shambhu borders during a high court hearing. This decision was made on March 19, based on intelligence reports suggesting potential violence as farmers attempted to breach barricades and push towards Delhi. Patiala's senior superintendent of police, Nanak Singh, stated that the government acted after receiving serious warnings about law and order. He mentioned that these alerts were verified by a meeting of protesting leaders who described their discussions with the Union government as unsuccessful. The police opted to disperse the protest without using strong force to avoid further conflict. The affidavit also pointed out the ongoing issues commuters faced due to the month-long blockades. It claimed that clearing the roads was necessary to alleviate public inconvenience. The government’s actions were in line with previous Supreme Court orders that urged authorities to resolve the situation affecting the public for over a year. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal was detained after the meeting with Union ministers and was not returned to the protest site, as it could have led to chaos. Instead, he was escorted to a safe location. Dallewal, along with another leader, Sarwan Singh Pandher, was part of the protest that began last year over demands for better support prices for crops and other issues. The farmers had been camping at the blockade sites since February 13, 2024, after earlier violence on February 21, when clashes occurred as they tried to reach Delhi. That incident resulted in injuries to many and the death of a 21-year-old protester, Shubh Karan Singh. Normal traffic was restored a day after the Punjab Police cleared the blockades.