Vandalism, water cannons: Farmers-police standoff escalates at Shambhu border

The police used water cannons to disperse the protesting farmers after they vandalised a flyover's safety barriers at the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu border.

Visuals showed farmers forcefully removing iron sheets on the wall of the bridge above the Ghaggar river and throwing them down.

Meanwhile, several farmers were detained and their vehicles were seized at the border by Haryana police soon after farmers’ unions began the ‘Dilli Chalo’ march amid heavy security.

Giving details about the tensions at the border, Inspector-General, Ambala Range, Sibash Kabiraj, told reporters, "We welcome the farmers coming from Punjab but if they travel on tractors, it will create problems for the people. They can travel on buses, trains, or by foot. If they come on tractors, we will not allow them."

"The traffic stops because of the tractors. People from Ambala and other areas around have requested the police to not allow framers to enter via tractors. And section 144 has also been imposed...," he added, according to ANI news agency.

According to Hinudstan Times newspaper, the farmers have been moving from the Ambala-Shambhu, Khanauri-Jind and the Dabwali borders towards Delhi.

Farmers began their tractor-trolleys march at 10 from Punjab's Fatehgarh Sahib .

Meanwhile, another group is moving towards the national capital from Mehal Kalan in Sangrur through Khanauri border.

Also read | Chaos at Shambhu border as police try to stop farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march