Farmers protesting against the Narendra Modi government’s three new farm laws have called for a nationwide three-hour ‘Chakka jam’, or road blockade, between noon and 3 PM on Saturday.
Barring Delhi, the blockade will take place in other parts of the National Capital Region, and the rest of country, farmer leaders told reporters.
The entry and exit points of Delhi’s Lal Quila, Jama Masjid, Janpath and Central Secretariat metro stations have been closed ahead of the ‘Chakka Jam’ protest, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced. With this, the DMRC has closed 12 metro stations in the National Capital so far. The gates of Mandi House, ITO, Delhi Gate, and Vishwavidyalaya stations were also sealed earlier today.
Amid heightened security, the Delhi police has deployed drone cameras to monitor the situation during the farmers’ Chakka Jam protest. A video shared by ANI shows these drones hovering over the Tikri border area, where farmers have been protesting.
The police has erected multi-layer barricades to stop the movement of vehicles at the Ghazipur border. Barbed wires have also been put up to keep off people on foot.
“Police personnel are deployed at strategic locations such as Road number 56, NH-24, Vikas Marg, GT Road, Jirabad Road, since it’s a call for nation-wide ‘chakka-jam’. Barricading has been done in a way that there is no intrusion in Delhi,” said Alok Kumar, Joint CP, Delhi Police.
To assist Delhi Police in maintaining law and order situation amid ‘Chakka Jam’ call by farmers, paramilitary forces have been deployed at various parts of Delhi-NCR including borders.
Haryana Police are also on high alert amid the farmers’ call for a ‘Chakka Jam.’
All India Kisan Sabha Haryana unit secretary Dayanand Poonia, in a statement Friday, said, “We urge different sections of society to extend full support to the chakka jam call. The bandh call has been given to ensure maximum participation of the masses in the ongoing farmer agitation against three farm laws as these laws will affect other sections of society. We request the general public to avoid travelling during chakka jam hours if it’s not very urgent.”
“As many as 200 farmers have lost their lives during the ongoing agitation which has continued for the past 72 days. As many as 150 youths have been lodged in jails,” he added.
