In a disturbing development in the Farmer’s protest, a police official was stabbed as protesting farmers clashed with “locals” that went on a rampage at the Singhu border. According to reports, the police officer who was stabbed is identified as Pradeep Paliwal. Pradeep is the station house officer (SHO) of Alipur. 

The tensions that have been simmering lately due to the farmer’s protest saw another ugly point where stone-pelting ensued between farmers on the protest site and “locals”. According to the visuals released by the Delhi Police, a man holding a sword is attacking the Delhi Police. So far it is not known if the man was an agitated farmer or part of a mob. So far two people, including a police official have been injured in the clash.  

It is not the first-time swords and other dangerous weapons are used in the farmer’s protest. On Tuesday, when the Republic Day tractor parade took an ugly turn and chaos ensued, protesters were seen using swords and lathis. 

According to reports, the man holding the sword first attacked a mob that had barged into the protest site. This mob, claiming to be locals, vandalized the farmers’ tents, the community kitchen and broke their washing machines. Despite heavy police deployment, the mob resorted to vandalism and also shouted anti-farmers slogans to trigger the farmers further. The “locals” demanded the farmers to vacate the protest site as they “insulted” the Indian flag during the Republic Day violence. 

Even though anti-riot security was heavily deployed, the forces could not control the mob it went on a vandalizing rampage inside the protesters’ tents, destroying the community kitchen, burning blankets and wreaking havoc on the essentials.  

Later, both the “locals” and the farmers resorted into pelting stones at each other. The locals were also seen using burning sticks, iron sticks against the farmers. To deescalate the situation the anti-riot personnel used tear gas, mirchi bombs and eventually had to turn to lathi-charge.  

Meanwhile, multi-layered security arrangements were enforced with barricades everywhere and all entry points to Singhu border being sealed. According to officials, Delhi Police have detained one person who had attacked SHO Pradeep Paliwal during the clash. 

Also read: Who is Rakesh Tikait? What is the role of Tikait brothers in Farmer Protest?