Farm protest: Farmers modify tractors to remove barriers, security forces on high alert

Police barricades in Punjab Haryana border

Security has been tightened, mobile internet snapped and traffic curbs put in place along state borders in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi as farmers, several of them on modified tractors, begin their protest march towards the national capital. The farmers plan to gather in Delhi on February 13.

Thousands of them are moving in tractors modified to remove barricades in their push to reach and block the national capital in a replay of their almost year-long protest in 2021, reports said.

With more than 25,000 farmers expected to join the protest, intelligence agencies have sounded an alarm, prompting heightened vigilance from police forces across Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi, reports said.

Tractors have been equipped with hydraulic tools capable of swiftly clearing obstacles and fire-resistant hard-shell trailers designed to mitigate the impact of tear gas shells. Farmers have trained with these vehicles, refining their tactics for maximum efficiency, reports said.

Moneycontrol couldn't verify the reports independently.

These measures by farmers seem to be in response to previous attempts to thwart their progress with sand-laden dumpers, concrete blocks, and containers.

Intelligence reports have asked police and paramilitary forces to prepare for confrontation, an ANI report said.

Haryana has suspended mobile internet, bulk SMS, and dongle services in several districts until February 13. The affected districts, including Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa, will experience restricted access to mobile internet services until 11.59 pm on February 13.

(with inputs from agencies)