Punjab Police Clears Farmers' Protest Sites at Shambu and Khanauri Borders After 13 Months.
Kisan Andolan: Punjab Police has ended the 13-month-long farmers' protest at Shambu and Khanauri borders. Police systematically cleared the protest sites at both locations, removing barricades, vehicles, and temporary structures.
Police Strategy:
The operation was meticulously planned and executed by Mohali police. Beginning around 5:30 PM Wednesday, police started detaining protesters in Mohali. At Shambu border, the clearance operation, utilizing JCB machines, commenced at 7:30 PM and concluded by 9:30 PM. Similarly, the Khanauri border was cleared between 7:45 PM and 9:30 PM.
Reasons for the Protest:
On February 13, 2024, farmers began protesting at Shambu and Khanauri borders, demanding the implementation of Minimum Support Price (MSP) and eleven other demands. Despite several rounds of negotiations between the government and farmers, no concrete resolution was reached.
Timeline of the Movement (13 Months):
February 13, 2024: Protest begins demanding MSP and 11 other demands.
February 21, 2024: Farmers attempt to march to Delhi; clash results in the death of Shubhkaran, a farmer from Bathinda.
March 10, 2024: Shubhkaran's death case reaches the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
March 16, 2024: Model Code of Conduct comes into effect due to Lok Sabha elections, but farmers maintain their protest.
April 1, 2024: Shubhkaran's death case reaches the Supreme Court.
April 17, 2024: Railway tracks blocked demanding the release of arrested farmers.
May 20, 2024: Farmers lift the railway track blockade but continue their border protests.
July 10, 2024: High Court orders Haryana government to open Shambu border within a week.
July 16, 2024: Farmers meet in Chandigarh and threaten a march to Delhi.
July 22, 2024: Haryana government seeks more time to present its case before the Supreme Court.
July 24, 2024: Supreme Court orders maintaining the status quo at the border.
August 12, 2024: Court orders opening one lane of Shambu border for elderly people, students, and ambulances.
August 25, 2024: Meeting between farmers and administration on border opening fails.
September 2, 2024: Supreme Court forms a committee to address the border issue.
November 18, 2024: Farmers announce a march to Delhi on December 6th.
November 26, 2024: Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal detained; begins a hunger strike.
December 6, 2024: Farmers attempt to march to Delhi from Shambu border, but are stopped by Haryana Police.
December 8, 2024: Another attempt to march to Delhi is thwarted by police.
December 14, 2024: A fourth attempt to march to Delhi is planned by farmers but is stopped.
December 30, 2024: Farmers organize a Punjab bandh (shutdown).
February 12, 2025: A mahapanchayat (large gathering) is held at Khanauri border to mark the one-year anniversary of the protest.
February 14, 2025: Meeting between farmer leaders and the central government.
February 22, 2025: Talks between farmers and the central government remain inconclusive.
March 20, 2025: Punjab Police clears the protest sites.
