On February 16, GRP Sub-Inspector Hiralal, stationed at the Shambhu Border, passed away unexpectedly due to health issues. This marks the second Haryana Police officer to lose his life on duty at the Shambhu Border amid the ongoing farmers’ protests. Following SI Hiralal’s demise during the farmers’ protest in Haryana, another officer, Exemptee Sub-Inspector (ESI) Kaushal Kumar, aged 56 and stationed at the Shambhu Border, succumbed to sudden illness on February 21. He was swiftly taken to the Civil Hospital in Ambala, where doctors declared him deceased. Kaushal Kumar was on duty beneath the bridge near the Ghaggar River.
Though the demise of these police personnel is due to a sudden deterioration of health and not a result of stone pelting or direct attacks from the protestors, the situation at ground zero remains highly volatile and incredibly stressful for them. The police find themselves in a challenging position, considering that the same Haryana Police employed force to suppress the riots following Ram Rahim Singh’s verdict, resulting in 36 casualties in a single day. Despite facing more intense provocation in the current scenario, they are managing the situation with considerable caution.
It is also noteworthy to remember the number of police personnel who are getting hurt in this round of protests. As of 15 February, 10 Haryana cops were injured during the protests. On 21 February 2024, the protestors surrounded the police personnel stationed at the Datta Singh-Khanauri border point, initiating the burning of stubble mixed with chilli powder. They proceeded to attack the security personnel using sticks and maces while also pelting stones, resulting in the severe injury of a minimum of 12 policemen.
During the 2021 tractor rally in Delhi, protesting farmers surprised Delhi Police by deviating from the approved route, breaking barricades, and entering the heart of Delhi. Despite containers and trucks at the borders, some breached the Red Fort and raised a flag. Now, as the region experiences a resurgence of the 2020–21 protests demanding a Minimum Support Price law, enhanced security measures, including tear gas drones and sonic weapons, have been implemented to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
Looking back at the 2020-21 farmer protest, more than 300 police personnel were injured in the violence by protesters, who used batons and sharp weapons. The protests transformed into rioting on 26 January 2021 with the storming of the Red Fort and replacing the tricolour with the Nishan Sahib flag; it is indicated that nearly 394 policemen were reported injured, 30 police vehicles were damaged with violence concentrated in areas such as Mukarba Chowk, Gazipur, ITO, Seemapuri, Nangloi T-Point, Tikri Border, along with the Red Fort. Barriers were breached at Ghazipur, Tikri, and Singhu borders, leading to the vandalism of several buses and private vehicles. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha that had promised a peaceful rally deviated from the agreed routes, instigating violence. Farmers, equipped with weapons, clashed with the police, breaking barricades. The situation escalated at the Red Fort, where they climbed ramparts and hoisted flags, leading to police intervention.
Such “protests” taken up by Mercedes-owning “farmers” every few years disturb the peace and sanity of the public as well as cause harm to law and order enforcement personnel. These protests for the selfish interests of the so-called Annadaata have lost their relevance and credibility among the general public.
