Chaos At Tractor Rally As Farmers Break Barricades, Cops Use Tear Gas

New Delhi: Thousands of farmers knocked down barricades, clashed with the police and entered Delhi this morning on Republic Day as they took out a tractor rally against the government's new agricultural laws. Chaos erupted at the borders of the capital as protesters were lathi-charged and tear-gassed by policemen. The disarray was caused after the protesters - allowed to hold the "Kisaan Parade" between 12 and 5 PM - began the march much before time and deviated from the agreed routes.

As the country celebrated its 72nd Republic Day, farmers had been given permission to take out their tractor rally in Delhi after the annual parade at Rajpath, a ceremonial road in the heart of the city. Crowds, however, swelled at the borders at around 8 AM even before the parade started. Some cops were injured while trying to stop the protesters. In central Delhi's ITO, a police bus was reportedly hijacked.

Stunning visuals showed farmers breaching barriers at the Singhu border, which divides Delhi and Haryana and has been the epicentre of protests against the farm laws that began late November. More than 5,000 protesters had gathered at various points outside the Delhi border.

In west Delhi near the Tikri border, farmers' leaders asked the protesters to maintain calm after the march began at around 9 AM. "Our rally will be peaceful and we will stick to the routes assigned," a leader told media.

A dramatic video from Delhi's Akshardham showed policemen firing tear gas shells from an overbridge; protesters on road looked for cover. At Mukarba chowk, protesters reportedly hurled stones at cops. In Nangloi area, Riot Control Police is on standby.

Contrasting images showed flower petals being showered on the protesters in some parts.

On Sunday, Delhi Police had allowed the tractor rally after the annual Republic Day parade. The protesters were told they can't disrupt the celebrations at Rajpath even as the farmers insisted their parade will be "peaceful".

However, the cops had also sounded a warning. "Mischievous elements can create a law-and-order situation," Deependra Pathak, Special Commissioner of Police (Intelligence), said at a news conference.