Tens of thousands of police deployed across India  in a bid to smother protests by farmers

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New Delhi, Feb 6 (AFP/APP): Tens of thousands of police were deployed across India on Saturday in a bid to smother new protests by farmers fighting government agriculture reforms.

Ten metro stations were closed in central New Delhi — where a tractor rally last month turned into a violent rampage — and thousands of police manned barricades and roadblocks at key intersections. Farmers unions called for protest roadblocks across the country in the latest day of action. They and their supporters occupied dozens of roads and toll booths for three hours in several states but no trouble was reported.

A major police deployment was ordered in the key farm state of Uttar Pradesh, which is a traditional pro-government bastion. Farmers groups suspended their action in the state to avoid a confrontation. Tens of thousands of farmers have been camping on the outskirts of Delhi since November calling for a repeal of the reforms that free up farm produce markets.

The farmers say the changes mean the crucial agriculture industry will be taken over by major conglomerates. While the authorities have increased pressure on the Delhi protest camps — cutting internet and water supplies — the farmers have vowed to keep their campaign going for months more.

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