Republic Day protests: Unruly rich farmers reach Red Fort, violate norms

The Republic Day protests by the rich farmers of Punjab today turned violent as unruly sections among them went berserk. Reports say that some of them entered Delhi on horses, holding swords in their hands. They intimidated the police personnel.

As per ANI’s reports, violence has erupted at the ITO in Central Delhi, with the protestors using tractors to deliberately try to run over police personnel. A clash ensued between the farmers and the cops at the ITO, with a group of farmers managing to reach Red Fort.

In Nagoli, the cops sat on the road in order to block the area from being taken under control by the mob. In another place, tear-gas shells were used to disrupt them from causing further anarchy.

There is a demand by some Netizens and commentators to seize the vehicles and properties of the rioting farmers. Wrote Sushant Sareen, “Videograph the anarchists. Then move against the instigators & extract damages from them. Sell their homes, farms and of course tractors to pay for the damage. What’s happening is as egregious as the storming of Capitol (in the US, recently by Trump supporters). This cannot, must not, go unpunished.”

This comes in the context of the Khalistani outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) reportedly announcing a reward of 2.5 lakh US dollars for those who will hoist a Khalistani flag on Red Fort on Republic Day (as reported by journalist Raj Shekhar Jha).