Wed Mar 19 18:16:13 UTC 2025: ## Punjab Police Evict Farmers, Detain Leaders After Meeting with Central Delegation

**Chandigarh, March 20, 2025** – Punjab Police forcibly evicted farmers from year-long protest sites at Shambhu and Khanauri border points on Wednesday, March 19th, leading to the detention of several prominent farmer leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher. The evictions, which cleared two major highways blocked for over a year, followed a meeting between the farmers and a central delegation led by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The meeting, while described as “cordial” by Chouhan, ended inconclusively, with a commitment to further talks scheduled for May 4th. However, upon leaving the meeting, the detained farmer leaders were apprehended in Mohali. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema justified the police action, citing significant economic losses for businesses due to the highway closures. He claimed the AAP government supports farmers’ demands but insists the protests should be directed at the central government.

The evictions sparked immediate condemnation from opposition parties. BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu accused the AAP government of sabotaging the talks. Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema both criticized the detentions. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) demanded the immediate release of all detained leaders. The police action involved a large-scale deployment of personnel and machinery to dismantle protest structures. While police claim no force was used, farmers reported scuffles during the arrests. The reopening of the highways is contingent upon the removal of barricades on the Haryana side, expected within a few days. The farmers’ core demands remain a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.

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