On Sunday, December 8, 2024, a group of farmers resumed their protest at the Shambhu border, located between Punjab and Haryana, attempting to march towards Delhi to press for their demands. However, their march was halted just a few meters from their starting point by barricades set up by the police. The farmers had briefly suspended their agitation two days earlier, but they resumed their protest demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and farm loan waivers.
On Friday, December 6, a group of 101 farmers began their march from the Shambhu border but were stopped by multilayered barricades erected by Haryana police. As tensions escalated, the police fired tear gas, injuring several farmers. The protest was temporarily called off, with some of the injured farmers taken to the hospital. Despite this setback, farmer leaders vowed to continue the march if no talks were held with the government by December 8.
The farmers, supported by organizations like the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, are also demanding farm pension, no hike in electricity tariffs, withdrawal of police cases against farmers, and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. A farmer leader, Sarwan Singh Pandher, had announced that if the government did not engage in talks, the march would proceed on December 8. However, as they reached the barricades, the police insisted on seeing the necessary permits for the protest.
Security in the area was heightened, with the Delhi Police setting up additional barricades and installing nails at the Shambhu border. To prevent unrest, the Haryana government also imposed a suspension on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in 11 villages of Ambala district until December 9.
The farmers have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders since February 13, 2024, when their attempt to march to Delhi was blocked by authorities. The protests continue as they demand legal guarantees and relief from the government.
