While the country celebrated 72th Republic Day, the national Capital resembled a war zone as protesters masquerading as farmers, took over highly sensitive Central Delhi, East Delhi, West Delhi and Outer Delhi.
There was mayhem on the city roads, as protesting farmers drove their tractors as tanks to bulldoze their way and reach ITO, when the Republic Day Parade was going on. Farmers broke all the promises they had made to the Delhi Police.
It all started with farmers owing allegiance to Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait broke through the police barricades at Ghazipur border and moved towards Akshardham. The Delhi Police personnel tried to prevent them from digressing the given routes to them but they were not willing to listen.
As tempers rose, protesters riding tractors, cars and bikes, breached the police barricades below Akshardham flyover and started moving towards the metro station. The Delhi Police was outnumbered as belligerent protesters tried to run over police personnel on duty.
Hundreds of tractors and vehicles reached Vikas Marg and moved menacingly towards ITO crossing. The Delhi Police men and officials ran to prevent them from moving towards India Gate, where parade was still going on.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and hosts of dignitaries including foreign diplomats and Union Ministers were present at the Rajpath.
As the angry protesters tried to breakthrough and march towards Red Fort, the Delhi Police and Paramilitary forces tried to prevent them from moving. It was here when protesters turned violent as they not only broke the road dividers, they tried to run over policemen. A woman constable was cornered and beaten by the protesters. She was however, rescued by her colleagues from being lynched. While all this was going on, tractor borne protesters moved towards Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg where BJP national headquarters is situated.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Sikh protesters had reached Red Fort and they climbed atop the ramparts and hoisted their religious flag. It took some time for the Delhi Police and Central forces to remove the religious flag from the pole.
Police had to deploy more forces to get the Red Fort premises vacated. While Central Delhi witnessed high voltage drama, protesters at Singuu border were moving towards North Delhi via Mukarba Chowk where pitched battle was fought between the protesters and the police forces. Tractor borne protesters marched on the outer ring road and reached Red Fort via Old Delhi Railway station. Protesters were finally evicted from the Red Fort and ITO by 6.30 pm.
According to the Delhi Police officers, farmers have started reaching Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri border, where police presence has been further beefed up. Additional security personnel drawn from Paramilitary forces have been deployed to man security. Atmosphere is quite tense on all the borders as well equipped police personnel are standing guard.
Wednesday, 27 January 2021 | Pramod Kumar Singh | NEW DELHI
