Haryana Police Fire Water Cannons, Tear Gas as Farmers Block NH-44 Over Paddy Procurement Delay

Haryana Police on Tuesday afternoon used water cannons and tear gas shells to disperse a large group of farmers who attempted to block National Highway-44 near Shahbad in Kurukshetra district, amid an escalating standoff over the delayed start of paddy procurement.

The farmers moved onto the highway around 1.30 p.m., prompting the police to intervene. The road remained blocked for roughly 10 to 15 minutes, according to Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni, who said several farmers were injured but none seriously.

Kurukshetra Superintendent of Police Chander Mohan said the administration had offered to hold talks with the protesting farmers, who nevertheless tried to block the highway. "We are very clear that the National Highway cannot be blocked," he said, adding that some police personnel were also injured in the clash.

Mr. Charuni said the protest was directed at the government's failure to begin paddy procurement even as arrivals in mandis mount. He said the farmers had earlier given the administration time until September 22, after the Deputy Commissioner intervened during a panchayat meeting on September 16.

"The arrival of paddy is increasing rapidly. More than two lakh quintals have already arrived in this region. Eight to 10 lakh quintals may have already arrived in the mandis, but procurement has not started," he said.

He alleged the delay was deliberate and tied to corruption, claiming that physical verification of paddy acreage had not been completed. Drawing on last year's experience, he alleged that inflated and fictitious acreage, including land where paddy had not been cultivated, was uploaded on the government portal without any action against those responsible.

The All India Kisan Sabha, Haryana, condemned the police action and accused the government of deliberately delaying procurement while imposing various conditions on farmers. State president Master Balbir Singh and general secretary Sumit Dalal alleged that limits were being placed on the quantity of crop that could be procured from individual farmers, and that farmers were facing difficulties operating procurement-related portals.

The AIKS leaders said the protest had been announced in advance by the BKU (Charuni), and alleged that the government and administration remained "insensitive and anti-farmer".