Punjab Clashes: Farmer Leader Jagjit Dallewal, 200 Others Detained, Internet Suspended
Punjab Police detained farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Sarwan Singh Pandher, and 200 others on Wednesday after clashes erupted during a march to the Khanauri and Shambhu borders, prompting an internet shutdown in parts of Sangrur and Patiala districts.
On March 19, 2025, tensions flared as farmers clashed with security personnel in Mohali while heading to the Khanauri and Shambhu border points. The Punjab Police detained Dallewal and Pandher in Mohali, while 200 others were held at Khanauri amid the unrest.
Following the clashes, authorities suspended internet services at the Khanauri border and surrounding areas in Sangrur and Patiala districts. The move aims to curb the spread of information and maintain order, police sources said.
In addition to the Mohali detentions, reports indicate that 300 more farmers may soon be detained at the Shambhu border. Security has been tightened with barricades and personnel deployed to prevent further escalation.
Farmers have been camping at the Khanauri and Shambhu borders since February 13, 2024, demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and other reforms. Their march to Delhi was halted by security forces last year.
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Besides MSP legalization, farmers seek debt waivers, pensions for farmers and laborers, stable electricity tariffs, and justice for the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence victims. They also demand compensation for families of farmers who died in earlier protests.
A meeting between farmer leaders and a central delegation in Chandigarh earlier on Wednesday ended without resolution. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan described the talks as positive but inconclusive, scheduling the next round for May 4.
The Chandigarh meeting saw Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Piyush Goyal join Chouhan. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian also attended the over three-hour discussion.
Former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi alleged a planned crackdown on farmers by CM Bhagwant Mann with central support. SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal criticized Mann, saying, “No one is safe in Punjab,” and highlighted Dallewal’s past hunger strike.
“Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who was on an indefinite hunger strike, has also been detained by the police,” Badal stated. She accused Mann of failing to honor election promises made to farmers.
With internet services down and detentions ongoing, the situation at the Punjab-Haryana borders remains tense. The May 4 meeting will be crucial in determining whether farmer demands are addressed or protests intensify further.
