Chandigarh, March 5 — Punjab Police have detained more than 50 farmers including leaders as they attempt to march toward Chandigarh for a week-long sit-in.
According to reports, Joginder Singh Ugrahan was arrested near Gharachon and taken to Chajli police station, his associate Jagtar Kalajhar confirmed.
Around 50 farmers gathered at Amb Sahib Gurudwara in Mohali were also detained.
Despite heavy police presence, farmers have been moving in small groups, avoiding highways and taking rural link roads.
Security has been tightened across Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Ropar, Sangrur, and Barnala, with toll plazas sealed and tippers parked on highways to block movement.
Farmers coming from Ferozepur were stopped near Samrala.
Protesters also burned an effigy of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as tensions escalated. Many were detained earlier at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Reports indicate that farmers are assembling in Morinda, while groups from Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Hoshiarpur are heading toward Gurdwara Tibbi Sahib in Ropar. Farmers from Ludhiana and Jagraon are gathering at Village Andlu, near Raikot, while those from Sangrur plan to assemble at Mehmadpur in Patiala before proceeding to Chandigarh.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of over 30 farmer unions, has called for the sit-in, beginning March 5.
SKM said police are stopping tractor-trolleys and other vehicles carrying protesters.
The crackdown follows the breakdown of talks between the Mann government and farmer leaders on Monday with CM Mann walking out the meeting.
This marks yet another confrontation between Punjab farmers and authorities, as protests over the Minimum Support Price (MSP) law have continued for four years.