Chandigarh, March 19, 2025: Punjab Police, led by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Patiala Range Mandeep Singh Sidhu, have started clearing the Khanauri border, where farmers have been protesting for several months over agricultural reforms and Minimum Support Price (MSP) guarantees. Farmers present at the site are being taken into custody as part of the process to reopen the border, which has been blocked since February as part of the ongoing farmers’ agitation.
Senior police officials confirmed that the government ordered the border’s reopening following disruptions to traffic and trade in the region. The clearance operation began early in the morning, with a heavy police presence to manage the situation. Additional police personnel, including riot control units and paramilitary forces, were deployed to prevent any untoward incident.
The farmers had set up tents, makeshift kitchens, and supply stations at the protest site, which were gradually being dismantled under police supervision. DIG Sidhu stated that the operation was being carried out in a “peaceful and coordinated manner” to avoid any escalation of tension. He added that detained farmers would be processed according to the law and released based on further instructions from the government.
Farmer leaders condemned the police action, accusing the government of attempting to suppress their democratic right to protest. Sarwan Singh Pandher, a key leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, called the move “undemocratic” and vowed to continue the fight for farmers’ rights. “We have been peacefully demanding a legal guarantee for MSP and justice for the Lakhimpur Kheri victims. This action will not deter us,” he said.
Opposition parties, including the Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress, criticized the government’s decision, accusing it of using force instead of dialogue. Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu said, “The farmers’ issues are legitimate, and the government should address them through talks rather than force.”
Meanwhile, traffic on the Khanauri border road was partially restored by the evening, with commuters expressing relief after months of disruption. DIG Sidhu assured that police forces would remain stationed in the area to ensure smooth movement of vehicles and maintain law and order.
