Chandigarh, July 21: Heavy police deployment and concrete barriers halted a major farm convoy at the Shambhu border point, preventing participants from proceeding to Delhi for a national demonstration against proposed trade policies. The movement of farmers, originating from assembly points near Sirhind and Fatehgarh Sahib, met strict security checks at the interstate bridge over the Ghaggar river.
The abrupt closure left numerous travelers stranded in traffic queues spanning the main arterial routes connecting Punjab and Haryana. Local law enforcement officials initiated alternative route diversions to clear lingering vehicle backup along key highway stretches.
Addressing the border restrictions, union representatives asserted that official measures aimed to restrict peaceful public assembly rather than manage traffic flow.
“The state administration has closed the border without providing prior warnings to the public,” Tejveer Singh declared. “This unannounced move harms ordinary travelers while attempting to suppress legitimate agricultural demands.”
With security forces maintaining positions at the Shambhu crossing, union leaders maintained that farm groups remain committed to voicing concerns regarding international trade agreements and their potential impact on agricultural livelihoods.
