Day after Capital Siege: 22 FIRs filed, Delhi security stepped up, farmers pushed back

First Published Jan 27, 2021, 9:30 AM IST

The Delhi Police had said that it would initiate legal action against those who assaulted its personnel during the farmers' tractor rally. Over 100 police personnel were injured in the clashes on Republic Day.

A day after farmers went on a rampage in the national capital on their tractors, the Delhi Police has filed at least 22 First Information Reports in connection with the violence.

Delhi Police Joint Commissioner Alok Kumar said, "The time and the routes for the tractor rally were pre-decided. The farmers had assured us that they would maintain peace and law and order. But they deviated from the routes, broke barricades and resorted to violence.

"We even tried to stop them with tear gas but they tried to run over police personnel with their tractors. Legal action will definitely be taken against those who assaulted the police personnel during the farmers' tractor rally," the officer had said.

Additional forces deployed

The Centre has decided to deploy additional paramilitary troops in Delhi following the violence that broke out during the farmers' tractor rally.

Though the exact number of additional paramilitary troops is still unknown, but officials suggested that it could be around 1,500 to 2,000 personnel.

After Delhi, Internet suspended in Haryana

The MHA invoked a rarely-used British-era provision to restrict Internet services in violence-hit parts of the national capital. The Haryana government has issued a similar order and suspended mobile internet services in Sonipat, Jhajjar and Palwal districts of the state.

Internet will be suspended in the three districts for 24 hours ending at 5 pm Wednesday. Haryana Home Secretary Rajeev Arora said Internet services were snapped to "stop the spread of disinformation and rumours through various social media platforms, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter" for mobilisation of antisocial elements who can disturb the peace, cause loss of life and damage to property.

Lal Qila Metro station shut

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has stated that entry gates of Lal Quila metro station are closed. Exit is permitted at this station. However, all other stations are open and services are normal on all lines.

The Delhi traffic police on Wednesday issued traffic alert in view of the violent protest by farmers during the tractor rally that stormed Delhi and nearby areas. The police said that Ghazipur flower and fruits mandi and national highway 9 have been closed and asked the commuters who want to go to Ghaziabad from Delhi to use Karkari Mor, Shahdara and DND. One of the main sites of violence, ITO bridge, also remains sealed off at the moment.