Chandigarh: On Friday morning, the Haryana Police backtracked and said it will not invoke the National Security Act (NSA), 1980 against farmer leaders protesting along the state’s border with Punjab.
While it had initially began the process to invoke NSA, the police later clarified that the NSA had not been invoked against the farm leaders.
The Ambala police, in an official statement, had announced the initiation of the process to detain the farmer leaders “to maintain law and order and to prevent disturbance in social harmony.”
Later, on Friday morning, Inspector General of Police (Ambala) Sibash Kabiraj was quoted by The Indian Express as saying, “This is to clarify to all concerned that the matter of invoking provisions of the National Security Act on a few farm union leaders in Ambala district has been reconsidered and it has been decided that the same will not be invoked.”
He added, “Haryana Police appeals to the protesters and their leaders to maintain peace and cooperate with the authorities in maintaining law and order.”
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The police have accused farm union leaders of actively contributing to agitation and attempting to disrupt law and order through actions such as pelting stones at police, spreading provocative speeches via social media platforms, and using inflammatory language against administrative officers and the government.
The police highlighted incidents where officers were injured, including fatalities and alleged damage to government and private property during the protests. They warned of compensatory actions against agitators causing such damage.
Furthermore, the Ambala police disclosed the initiation of processes to attach properties and seize bank accounts of protesting farmers to cover losses caused to government property.
In connection with these actions, notices were reportedly issued against local leaders of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) in Ambala district and FIRs lodged against agitating farmers in Jind district under attempt to murder charges related to violent incidents at the Datta Singhwala-Khanauri border of Punjab.
