Farmers tractor rally live updates tractor parade farm laws farmers protest

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Red Fort breached, violence galore: How farmers' tractor parade turned into a chaotic affair

A tractor march meant to highlight farmers' demands dissolved into anarchy on the streets of New Delhi on Tuesday, as hordes of rampaging protesters broke through barriers, fought with police, overturned vehicles and delivered a national insult -- hoisting a religious flag from the rampart of Red Fort, a privilege reserved for India’s tricolour.

Tens of thousands of protesters clashed with police in multiple places, leading to chaos in well-known landmarks of Delhi and suburbs, amid waves of violence that ebbed and flowed through the day, leaving the farmers' two-month peaceful movement in tatters. In a Republic Day like no other, farmers atop tractors, on motorcycles and some on horses, broke barricades to enter the city at least two hours before they were supposed to start the tractor march at noon sanctioned by authorities. Steel and concrete barriers were broken and trailer trucks overturned as pitched battles broke out in several parts of the city.

Eclipsing the traditional show of military might at Rajpath, the farmers’ tractor parade that was supposed to be peaceful led to virtual anarchy on the streets and unprecedented scenes – the most perhaps being the sight of protesters clambering up the flagpole at the Red Fort, the centrepiece of India’s Independence Day celebrations, to hoist the ‘Nishaan Sahib’, the Sikh religious flag.

Farmer leaders, who have been spearheading the protest at the national capital’s border points to demand a repeal of the farm laws, distanced themselves from the protests that had taken such an unseemly turn and threatened to shift public sympathy from their movement. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of 41 farmer unions, alleged that some "antisocial elements" infiltrated their otherwise peaceful movement.

Farmers' tractor rally: Highlights

09:50 pm: 30 police personnel including SHO of Mohan Garden Police Station sustained serious injuries in the violence in Dwarka district during today's tractor rally. Three FIRs are being registered in this regard: Delhi Police

09:35 pm: Traffic movement is now normal from Dhaula Kuan to Naraina: Delhi Traffic Police

09:30 pm: There were around 300 artists including children at the Red Fort. As the situation developed, we provided them with food and shifted them to a safe place, Daryaganj Mess: DCP (North) Anto Alphonse

09:27 pm: Entry/exit gates of Jama Masjid and Inderlok are closed. Interchange is available at Inderlok: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)

09:20 pm: Four cases have been registered in connection with the vandalism in East Delhi during the farmers' tractor rally today. Eight buses and 17 private vehicles were vandalized: Delhi Police (Eastern Range)

08:41 pm: Protestors gather at Red Fort in Delhi.

08:35 pm: District Administration and SSPs of Dehradun, Nainital, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts have been directed to remain alert in wake of violence during today's tractor rally in Delhi: Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar

08:25 pm: Traffic movement is now normal from NH-24 towards Ghaziabad and NH-9 towards Ghaziabad. Traffic movement is now normal at Peeragarhi Chowk and Punjabi Bagh Chowk: Delhi Traffic Police

08:19 pm: 83 Police personnel were injured after being attacked by agitating farmers in Delhi today: Delhi Police

08:01 pm: Traffic movement is now normal on Vikas Marg, Delhi Gate & ISBT Anand Vihar towards Uttar Pradesh: Delhi Traffic Police

07:55 pm: Internet and SMS services to remain suspended in Sonipat, Palwal, and Jhajjar districts of Haryana till 5 pm tomorrow to check misinformation: Haryana government

07:46 pm: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar while chairing a high-level meeting today, has directed all Deputy Commissioners, Commissioners of Police, & Superintendents of Police to remain on ‘high alert’ to ensure law & order situation in the state is not disturbed at any cost: Haryana CMO

07:40 pm: Media outlets are reporting clashes between New Delhi Police & protesting farmers in parts of Delhi. US govt personnel have been advised to avoid these areas, stay at home, & exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large groups, protests, or demonstrations: US Embassy in India

07:36 pm: Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called off Kisan Republic Day Parade with immediate effect &appealed to all participants to immediately return to their respective protest sites. SKM announced the movement will continue peacefully& further steps will be discussed & decided soon:SKM

07:32 pm: Around 200 artists of Republic Day parade were stranded since around 12 noon near Red Fort due to the tractor rally have now been rescued by Delhi Police.

07:26 pm: Entry gates of Shastri Nagar and Kanhaiya Nagar are closed: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)

07:25 pm: Entry/exit gates of Samaypur Badli, Civil Lines, Vidhan Sabha and Uttam Nagar East are open: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)

07:15 pm: Legal action will definitely be taken against those who assaulted the police personnel during the farmers' tractor rally today: Alok Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police, Delhi

06:55 pm: In view of the violent incidents in several areas during the ‘Farmers Tractor March’ in Delhi on Republic Day, Director General of Police of Haryana, Manoj Yadava issued a ‘high alert’ directing all district police chiefs to be extremely vigilant: Haryana Police

06:40 pm: Delhi: Latest visual from Red Fort.

06:36 pm: The way the agitation handled today is regrettable. We all sitting in Opposition support the farmers' cause and I appeal -- now you (farmers) should go back to your respective villages peacefully and should not give any opportunity to the govt to blame you: NCP Chief Sharad Pawar

06:29 pm: Delhi: Movement of vehicles resumes at ITO.

06:17 pm: Entry gates of Rohini Sector 18, Vidhan Sabha, Model Town and Inderlok are closed: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)

06:13 pm: Additional companies of Paramilitary Forces are likely to be deployed in Delhi. These would be over and above 15 companies which were sent yesterday. 5 companies were on standby today: Govt sources

06:12 pm: Passengers who are not able to reach stations & catch trains in Delhi area stations due to Kisan agitation are requested to apply for full refund of all trains departing from all stations of Delhi area upto 2100 hrs today through TDR & e-TDR for e-tickets: CPRO, Northern Railway

06:11 pm: The time and the routes for the tractor rally were finalised after several rounds of meetings. But farmers drove tractors off the routes and before the fixed time, leading to vandalism in which many police personnel were injured: Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava to ANI

06:10 pm: Public properties have also been damaged. I appeal to the protesting farmers not to indulge in violence, maintain peace and return through the designated routes: Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava to ANI

06:05 pm: Entry/exit gates of Kashmere Gate and Azadpur metro station are closed: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)

06:03 pm: Entry and exit gates of Indraprastha are open.Entry gates of Uttam Nagar East metro station are closed: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)

06:00 pm: Protesters turned violent at some places. Many police personnel were injured & public properties also damaged. Police exercised restraint & used force only when needed. I appeal to protesters to return through the designated routes & maintain peace: Delhi Police PRO Eish Singhal

05:57 pm: Farmers break police barricades at Peeragarhi Chowk and move towards Punjab Bagh in Delhi.

05:54 pm: Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava has appealed to farmers yet again, to return via decided routes. "A number of meetings happened to decide on the route and time of the tractor parade. But they began before the agreed time and deviated from the route, leading to a lot of damage. Many policemen also suffered injuries, public property was damaged. I appeal to farmers to return via the decided routes."

05:46 pm: Delhi Police Commissioner has directed personnel to tackle rioters with full power.

05:45 pm: Govt to deploy 15 paramilitary companies amid chaotic farmer protests in Delhi. Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has briefed Home Minister Amit Shah about the situation in Delhi.

05:38 pm: Nobody will support whatever happened today but the reason behind it cannot be ignored either. Those sitting calmly grew angry, the Centre didn't fulfill its responsibility. Govt should act maturely & take the right decision: NCP Chief Sharad Pawar on the tractor rally in Delhi

05:37 pm: Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh held protest in a disciplined manner but govt didn't take them seriously. As restraint ended, the tractor march was taken out. Centre's responsibility was to keep law & order in control but they failed: NCP Chief Sharad Pawar

05:30 pm: Entry/exit has been permitted through one gate in the following stations — Samaypur Badli, Rohini Sector 18/19, Haiderpur Badli Mor, Jahangir Puri, Adarsh Nagar, Azadpur, Model Town, GTB Nagar, Vishwavidyalaya, Vidhan Sabha and Civil Lines: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)

05:28 pm: Normal service has resumed on grey line: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)

05:27 pm: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh urges farmers to vacate Delhi and return to borders

05:20 pm: Delhi Police officials hold cruicial meeting amid ongoing protest

05: 17 pm: Protesters reach Peeragarhi flyover

05:13 pm: Farmer leaders have said that those who indulged in violence today were not part of the movement and were external elements. Whoever they were, the violence has certainly weakened the movement which was going on so peacefully and in a disciplined manner: AAP

05:12 pm: We strongly condemn the violence seen in today's protest. It is regrettable that the Central govt allowed the situation to deteriorate to such an extent. The movement has been peaceful for the last two months: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

05:10 pm: Vikas Marg to Yamuna Vihar is now open for traffic movement: Delhi Traffic Police

05:07 pm: Traffic is very heavy on GTK road, Outer ring road, Badli road, KN Katzu Marg, Madhuban chowk, Kanjhawala Road, Palla Road, Narela & DSIDC Narela roads. Please avoid these roads: Delhi Traffic Police

04:39 pm: Union Home Minister Amit Shah takes stock of law and order situation in Delhi from senior Home Ministry officials: Sources

04:31 pm: Entry and exit gates of Mansarovar Park and Jhilmil are open: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)

04:20 pm: High-level meeting of Home Ministry officials underway

04:00 pm: Traffic movement is closed from Yudhistir Bridge to Seelam Pur(both carriageways). Traffic is diverted from Geeta Colony and Signature Bridge: Delhi Traffic Police

03:57 pm: Internet services temporarily suspended in the areas of Singhu, Ghazipur, Tikri, Mukarba Chowk, Nangloi and their adjoining areas till 23:59 hrs on January 26: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

03:47 pm: Despite all our efforts, some orgs and individuals violated route & indulged in condemnable acts. Anti-social elements had infiltrated the otherwise peaceful movement. We've always held that peace is our biggest strength& any violation would hurt the movement: Samyukta Kisan Morcha

03:45 pm: We thank farmers for the unprecedented participation in today's Farmers Republic Day Parade. We also condemn and regret the undesirable and unacceptable events that have taken place today and dissociate ourselves from those indulging in such acts: Samyukta Kisan Morcha

03:43 pm: In the morning at Ghazipur border, two police officers - Additional DCP East Manjeet and a probationer IPS Officer — received injuries as they tried to stop the farmers from breaking the barricades: Delhi Police

03:41 pm: Entry/exit gates of Dilshad Garden, Jhilmil and Mansarovar Park are closed: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)

03:35 pm: Internet services snapped in some parts of Delhi-NCR in view of the prevailing law and order situation.

03:29 pm: Traffic is very heavy on Wazirabad road, ISBT road, GT road, Pushta road, Vikas marg, NH-24, Road no. 57, Noida link road. Please avoid these roads: Delhi Traffic Delhi

03:25 pm: Entry/exit gates of all stations on grey line are closed: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)

03:16 pm: Traffic movement is closed from Kapashera Chowk to Bijwasan Road. Diversion is given from Kapashera Border & Samalkha T Point. Traffic movement is closed from Dwarka More to Uttam Nagar East Metro Station. Diversion is given from Dwarka More

03:15 pm: Traffic movement is closed from R/A Shankar Road to Talkatora Road & Minto Road. Motorists are advised to take alternate route

03:12 pm: Delhi Traffic Police advises commuters to avoid NH 44, GTK road, outer ring road, Signature Bridge, GT road, ISBT ring road, Vikas Marg, ITO, NH 24, Nizammudin Khatta, Noida link road, Peeragarhi & Outer Delhi, East & West Delhi border areas due to ongoing farmer protests

03:07 pm: Delhi: One of the protestors puts flags atop a dome at Red Fort

02:59 pm: Since morning we had been appealing to farmers to go by pre-approved route but some of them broke police barricades, attacked police personnel. Appeal to farmer unions to help maintain peace. This isn't a peaceful protest on Republic Day: Shalini Singh, Jt CP, in Nangloi, Delhi

02:53 pm: We know the people who are trying to create disturbance, they are identified. There are people from political parties who are trying to malign the agitation: Rakesh Tikait, Spox, BKU, when asked that there are allegations that protests have gone out of the hands of farmer leaders

02:42 pm: Rahul Gandhi demands roll back of farm laws

02:40 pm: Indian National Congress (INC) has extended its support to the farmers protesting against the three Central farm laws. "The farmers, labourers & workers are the true strength of the Indian republic," the party tweeted.

02:37 pm: Farmers' protest: Traders' association says Connaught Place to remain closed following Delhi Police advisory

02:34 pm: {img-82352}

02:26 pm: Delhi: Flags installed by protestors continue to fly at Red Fort

02:22 pm: Delhi: Another protestor puts a flag on the pole at Red Fort

02:06 pm: A protestor hoists a flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort

02:01 pm: Protesters enter Delhi's Red Fort, wave their flags from the ramparts

01:54 pm: Delhi: Following farmer-police clash at ITO

01:49 pm: Protesting farmers reach Red Fort

01:44 pm: A Delhi Police personnel was looked after by other Police personnel as he fell unconscious

01:40 pm: DTC bus vandalised by protesting farmers at ITO in central Delhi

01:34 pm: Violence continues at ITO in central Delhi

01:29 pm: Delhi: Injuries during the clash between protesting farmers and Police. Visuals from ITO area in central Delhi

01:21 pm: Visuals from ITO in central Delhi as protesting farmers reach here after changing the route

01:16 pm: Entry/exit gates of ITO metro station are closed: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)

01:07 pm: Delhi: Police officials sit on road in Nangloi to block area

01:02 pm: A Delhi Police personnel rescued by protesters as one section of protesters attempted to assault him at ITO in central Delhi

12:59 pm: Entry/exit gates of Indraprastha metro station and all stations on the Green Line are closed: DMRC

12:57 pm: Entry/exit gates of Samaypur Badli, Rohini Sector18/19, Haiderpur Badli Mor, Jahangir Puri, Adarsh Nagar, Azadpur, Model Town, GTB Nagar, Vishwavidyalaya, Vidhan Sabha and Civil Lines are closed: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation

12:56 pm: Police use tear gas shells to disperse the protesting farmers at ITO

12:50 pm: Protesters break barricade, attack police personnel

12:49 pm: Rally is going on peacefully. I don't have any knowledge of it. We are at Ghazipur and are releasing the traffic here: Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) when asked about incidents of violence at some locations, during the tractor rally

12:40 pm: Protesting farmers reach ITO, break police barricades

12:34 pm: Delhi: Protesting farmers vandalise a DTC bus in ITO area

12:24 pm: Delhi: Farmers tractor rally reaches near ITO

12:22 pm: Delhi: Protestors arrive near Pragati Maidan area

11:37 am: Protestors at Karnal bypass break police barricading to enter Delhi

11:31 am: Protestors push through police barricading on Delhi-Meerut Expressway

11:25 am: Protestors seen on top of a police vehicle and removing police barricading at Mukarba Chowk in Delhi

11:21 am: Delhi: Huge crowd of farmers at Tikri Border

11:20 am: They have cooperated with us and we are cooperating with them. It is our request that they continue to follow the route they are currently on, says SS Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police at Singhu Border

11:17 am: Police use tear gas on farmers who have arrived at Delhi's Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar from Singhu border

11:15 am: Farmers climb atop a police water cannon vehicle

11:12 am: {img-39199}

11:05 am: We've to move towards Ring Road but the police are stopping us. We've given them 45 mins to speak to their seniors. We're carrying out a peaceful parade. The route they are asking us to follow wasn't agreed upon, says Satnam Singh Pannu, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee at Singhu Border

11:00 am: Delhi: Police use tear gas to disperse farmers at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar

10:49 am: Police fire tear gas near Akshardham

10:44 am: Haryana: Drones put to use amid high-security arrangements at Faridabad-Palwal border

10:39 am: Delhi: Locals in Swaroop Nagar shower flower petals on farmers

10:31 am: Delhi: Farmers carry out tractor parade at Ghazipur border amid high security deployment

09:40 am: Tractor rally from Singhu border reaches #Delhi's Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar

09:29 am: Farmers' tractor rally in protest against the Centre's farm laws underway at Tikri border

09:23 am: We are in touch with the Uttar Pradesh Police and farmer leaders. We have deployed drones for security surveillance during farmers tractor rally, says DCP East Delhi at Ghazipur border

08:58 am: Farmers' Republic Day tractor rally in protest against the three farm laws begins at Delhi's Dhansa border

08:47 am: Protesting farmers break police barricading at Delhi-Haryana Tikri border

08:14 am: A large number of farmers, along with their tractors, head towards Delhi

08:01 am: Delhi-UP Ghazipur border: Protesting farmers to hold tractor rally today

07:49 am: Farmers' tractors with Tricolour ready for Republic Day tractor rally in protest against the Centre's farm laws

07:30 am: Farmers to hold tractor rally in Delhi today