Punjab Police detains Dallewal, Pandher in Mohali; evicts farmers from protest sites to clear roads

Police evict farmers from protest sites on highways, detaining leaders, amid ongoing talks and opposition criticism.

Several farmer leaders including Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal were detained in Mohali while returning from a meeting with a central delegation, as Punjab Police evicted farmers from Shambhu and Khanauri protest sites and began clearing the roads, which were blocked for more than a year.

Police said they would soon open the two highways after dismantling the temporary structures and stages, and removing trolleys and other vehicles stationed by the farmers, who have have been camping since February last year.

Farmer leader Guramneet Singh Mangat said the farmer leaders were detained in Mohali while they were headed to the Shambhu protest site after the meeting with the delegation led by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema justified the eviction of farmers from the protest sites, saying industries and businesses have been hit hard due to the prolonged closure of two highways — "the lifelines of the state".

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"The AAP is committed to youths and generating employment. They will get jobs if the trade and industry functions smoothly," he said.

BJP leader and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu strongly condemned the detention of farmer leaders and alleged the AAP government in Punjab was trying to "sabotage" talks between the Centre and farmers.