Statewide Protests Erupt After Police Crackdown on Farmers; Nearly 1,000 Detained

• Mar 21, 2025

A sweeping police crackdown on farmers across Punjab on Thursday sparked widespread protests, with close to 1,000 people detained statewide. The detentions came in the wake of escalating tensions following the forceful eviction of protesters from the Khanauri and Shambhu border sites.

Farmers associated with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM)—two prominent organisations behind the ongoing agitation—mobilised in large numbers against the state government’s actions.

Satnam Singh Pannu, president of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, sharply criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government. “Instead of bringing the promised change, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is engaging in the politics of revenge,” Pannu alleged.

One of the most intense confrontations was reported from Faridkot, where farmers defied police warnings and gathered in large numbers at Pucca and Vada Bhaika villages, aiming to block the Bathinda-Amritsar highway. Despite being warned in advance, farmers refused to vacate the area. As tensions escalated, police detained around 500 protesters from both locations and transported them to undisclosed locations. Protesters shouted anti-government slogans as they were taken into custody. In Vada Bhaika, scuffles broke out, and several farmers lost their turbans during the clash.

Farmer leader Sukhdev Singh voiced frustration over the government's actions, saying, “We expected support, but are now facing direct suppression.” He also condemned the detention of fasting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal and accused authorities of vandalising tractors at the protest sites. Singh affirmed that the movement would continue until Dallewal’s release.

Defending the police response, DSP Tirlochan Singh stated that adequate warnings had been issued. “Blocking national highways causes severe inconvenience to the public. We repeatedly urged the farmers not to do so, but when they persisted, we had no option but to act,” he said.

Similar tensions were witnessed in other districts:

• Bathinda: Police thwarted an attempt by the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta-Sidhupur) to block the Bathinda-Amritsar highway and shut down the Jeeda toll plaza. Heavy police deployment was in place at key junctions.
• Gurdaspur: Around 50 farmers ended a three-day protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office after police warned of imminent detention. SSP Aditya noted that the protest ended peacefully without force.
• Sangrur: Over 150 farmers, including women, were taken into custody after a dharna was staged outside the DC office by BKU (Azad), led by Jaswinder Singh Longowal.
• Muktsar: Nearly 200 farmers were detained as they attempted to block the Malout-Bathinda and Muktsar-Bathinda roads.
• Gidderbaha: Mild force was used to disperse protesters, and eyewitnesses claimed commuters were asked to assist police in removing demonstrators.
• Fazilka: Police prevented farmers from blocking the Fazilka-Ferozepur highway near Theh Kalandar village.
• Bhawanigarh: Around 30 BKU (Sidhupur) members were detained while trying to block the Sangrur-Bhawanigarh main road.

Security has been further reinforced at protest-prone areas like the Babri bypass checkpoint on the Gurdaspur-Batala-Amritsar national highway, signaling the government’s intent to prevent any fresh blockades.

(With inputs from Balwant Garg, Sukhmeet Bhasin, Archit Watts, Ravi Dhaliwal, Praful Chander Nagpal, and Sushil Goyal)