Farmers' 'Dilli Chalo' March: 'Jatha' called off amid injuries

New Delhi [India], December 8 (ANI): The "jatha," contingent of 101 farmers, participating in the 'Dilli Chalo' march on Sunday, has been called off following escalating tensions and injuries among the protesters, farmer leaders said while addressing the media.
The decision to withdraw the group was made after several farmers were injured, with one in serious condition and admitted to PGI.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher stated that the situation will be assessed in a meeting scheduled for tomorrow, with further updates to be provided during a press conference. Despite the government's efforts to prevent the march, including restricting media coverage, the farmers remain determined to continue their agitation.
Pandher announced the decision to call off the 'jatha' marching towards Delhi, saying, "Today we have decided to withdraw the 'jatha'. The agitation will continue today. One farmer has been admitted to PGI and is in serious condition, and 8-9 farmers are injured, so we have withdrawn the 'jatha'. After the meeting, we will tell you about the future program."
According to sources, the injured farmers identified include Resham Singh, Dilbagh Singh, Mehr Singh, Karnail Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Kulwinder Singh. Four of them are in serious condition, and one has been referred to PGI for further treatment.
Pandher added that the group had attempted to march towards Delhi, but the government made every effort to stop them. "The Modi government has the most powerful means and resources in the world to spread false propaganda and misinformation. The government does not seem to have any intention of resolving this issue through dialogue with us," he said.
Earlier in the day, the Punjab government tried to stop media coverage of the protest, but after intervention, media teams were able to continue their work.
Pandher stated that tomorrow both farmer groups would meet to assess the situation and plan their next steps. "After the decision is made, we will share the information through a press conference in the evening," he said.
Meanwhile, at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border, DSP Shahabad Ramkumar said, "The team has been deployed here since morning... We gave clear instructions that we will check their (farmers') identity and permission and only then will we allow them to move forward... They disagreed... we want them to maintain peace and enter after taking permission..."
Also, Haryana Police deployed tear gas at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border to disperse farmers. A verbal altercation ensued between the police and the protesting farmers, with drone footage showing police blocking the farmers at the border. According to Haryana Police, the group of farmers moving forward did not match the list of 101 farmers scheduled to participate in the march.
"We will first identify them (farmers) and then allow them to proceed. We have a list of the names of 101 farmers, and these are not the same people. They are not letting us identify them and are moving ahead as a mob," said a Haryana Police official deployed at the site. (ANI)