Farmers Chakka Jam: 50,000 Personnel, Water Cannons in Delhi

India: The national capital has fortified itself for a protest that it may not officially witness today. Ten days after unprecedented violence during a farmers’ tractor rally marred India’s Republic Day celebrations in parts of Delhi, the protesters are set to observe a three-hour chakka jam (road block) across the country.

The block, called by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) demanding the withdrawal of three contentious Central farm laws, will come into effect at noon today and will be observed along major national and state highways across the country.

Nevertheless, extra security has been deployed and barricades strengthened, which may potentially lead to traffic congestion on many key Delhi roads.

Extensive measures have been undertaken at the three key protest sites around Delh: Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur.

At Ghazipur, even water cannon vehicles deployed. The Tikri border pointhas been fortified with some 20 layers of hurdles, including barbed wires, concrete blocks, nets. Even the narrowest of roads leading to or from the area have been blocked. The Red Fort area, the biggest point of disturbance on Republic Day, has also received particular focus.

Around 50,000 police, paramilitary, and reserve forces personnel have been deployed overall in the Delhi-NCR region while at least 12 metro stations have been put on alert, the police have said. Entry into eight such stations has been blocked.

The police, on high alert, will be monitoring social media to track rumours and act against those sparking or spreading them. “We are in touch with the police forces of other states also,” Delhi police spokesperson Chinmoy Biswal has said. Internet services have already been shut down in the three key protest areas.