Haryana: Section 144 Imposed, Mobile Internet Suspended in Karnal Ahead of Farmers' Protest

Karnal (Haryana: Prohibitory orders banning gathering of people were imposed in Karnal on Monday, a day ahead of a gherao planned by farmers at the mini-secretariat here over the August 28 lathicharge, officials said.

The district administration has issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC, banning the assembly of five or more people, and a traffic advisory with planned route diversions, they said.

The Haryana government also ordered suspension of mobile internet services in Karnal district to "stop the spread of misinformation and rumours" through social media, a day ahead of the farmers' mahapanchayat and planned gherao of the mini-secretariat over the August 28 lathicharge. 

The mobile internet services in Karnal district will remain suspended from 12:30 pm on Monday to Tuesday midnight. 

According to a Haryana police advisory, main National Highway No 44 (Ambala-Delhi) may see some traffic disruptions in Karnal district on Tuesday.

"Therefore, the general public using NH-44 are advised to avoid journey through Karnal town or otherwise use alternate routes to go to their destination on September 7," it said.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Navdeep Singh Virk said elaborate security arrangements have been made in view of the call for the gherao of mini-secretariat.

He said the primary objective of these arrangements is to maintain public peace and order, prevent any kind of violence, facilitate the functioning of traffic and public transport system and to safeguard the public property across the state in general and Karnal in particular.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer outfits protesting against the farm laws, had threatened to lay siege to the Karnal mini-secretariat on September 7 if its demands were not met.

Haryana Bhartiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni on Monday said their demands were not met, so a big panchayat will be held here on Tuesday, after which farmers will proceed to gherao the mini-secretariat.

"Farmers will be gathering in Karnal's New Anaj Mandi on Tuesday morning," he said, adding they will hold a peaceful protest.

The Haryana Police had lathicharged a group of farmers disrupting traffic movement on a national highway near here on August 28 while heading towards Karnal to protest against a BJP meeting. Over 10 protesters were injured.

The SKM had said a murder case should be registered against IAS officer Ayush Sinha who was caught on tape allegedly telling policemen to "break heads" of protesting farmers.

Sinha, who was later transferred in a reshuffle also involving some other IAS officers, has now been posted as the additional secretary in the Citizen Resources Information Department.

Meanwhile, according to police advisory, vehicles coming from Delhi side will be allowed to reach Chandigarh via Pepsi Bridge (Panipat) via Munak to Assandh and Munak to Gagsina, via Ghoghadipur to Hansi Chowk of Karnal, via Bypass Western Yamuna Canal to Karna Lake via GT Road 44.

Apart from this, light vehicles will be diverted towards Chandigarh via Madhuban, Daha, Bajida, Ghogharipur, Hansi Chowk, Bypass Yamuna Canal, Karna Lake, GT Road 44.

On Tuesday, vehicles coming from Chandigarh side will be diverted from Pipli Chowk (Kurukshetra) via Ladwa, Indri, Bayana, Neval, Kunjpura via Nangla Megha, Meerut via Amritpur Khurd, Kairavali and Gharaunda via GT Road 44.

Apart from this, light vehicles will be allowed from Ramba Cut Tarawadi via Ramba Chowk Indri Road via Sangoha, Ghid, Baragaon, Neval, Kunjpura via Nangla Megha, Meerut Road via Amrutpanur Khurd, Kairavali and Gharaunda via GT Road-44.

Chaduni had earlier also sought the registration of a case against those involved in the lathicharge.

He had demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh and a government job for the family of a farmer who died after allegedly sustaining injuries in the lathicharge in Karnal on Saturday.

However, the administration here claimed that the farmer was not injured in the police action but had died due to a heart attack.

Meanwhile, the IG Police Karnal Range and all district Superintendents of Police (Karnal Range) have been directed to take necessary preventive and precautionary measures to maintain law and order and peace in Karnal and adjoining districts, Virk said.

All measures will be taken to contain any kind of untoward incident and ensure safety of citizens, he added.

All citizens are being informed about these arrangements in advance so that they are able to plan and modify their journey accordingly, to avoid any inconvenience, Virk said.

Stern action as per law would be taken against those trying to disturb the law and order, he added.