Chandigarh, March 24: The Punjab Government on Monday informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that it acted on intelligence inputs warning of a potential escalation at the farmer protest sites in Shambhu and Khanauri. Authorities claimed that farmers were likely to breach barricades and resume their march toward Delhi, prompting the state to clear the protest sites.
In an affidavit, Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nanak Singh stated that intelligence gathered from multiple sources, including the state’s intelligence wing, indicated a “violent attempt” by farmers to break through the barricades. The situation reportedly worsened following the March 19 meeting between farmer leaders and a Union Government delegation led by the Union Agriculture Minister, which the farmers deemed a “failure.”
The affidavit mentioned that key protest leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who attended the meeting while being medically monitored in an ambulance provided by the Punjab Government as per Supreme Court directions, was also present.
Citing “critical and alarming inputs,” the Punjab Government stated it took pre-emptive steps on the intervening night of March 19-20 to prevent a breach of peace. It claimed the state police and local administration dispersed the farmers without using “strong force whatsoever” and aimed to reduce hardships faced by the general public due to prolonged roadblocks.
The state argued that its action aligned with Supreme Court directives, which had encouraged state authorities to manage the situation. “Various orders passed by the Supreme Court reveal that Punjab and Haryana were not only expected to remedy the on-ground situation but were also appreciated for doing so at certain instances,” the affidavit stated.
The affidavit was filed in response to a habeas corpus petition seeking Dallewal’s release. Petitioner-farmer leader Gurmukh Singh, through counsel Gurmohan Preet Singh, Angrej Singh, and Kanwarjit Singh, alleged that Dallewal was in illegal custody.
Read More: HC Seeks Punjab Govt Report on Dallewal’s Detention
