Haryana cops detain 72 farm leaders

Chandigarh/Rohtak, Nov 24

Ahead of the “Delhi Chalo” demonstration by farmers, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has warned of action at the Delhi-Haryana and Punjab-Haryana borders over the next three days even as the state police swooped down on the houses of farmer activists in the wee hours today to take them into “preventive custody”.

Midnight raids and arrests were reported in Sirsa, Fatehabad, Bhiwani, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar and Ambala districts.

Later in the day, the CM said the government did not approve of the farmers’ protest and plans were afoot to ensure law and order was not compromised.

He said, “The public should avoid the Punjab-Haryana border on November 25 and 26 and the Delhi-Haryana border on November 26 and 27. Stern action has been planned to avert any law and order situation.” “Seventy-two activists have been detained so far and more such preventive arrests are likely,” Haryana DGP Manoj Yadava said. — TNS