Farmers’ protest is taking a new turn at the Singhu and Tikri sites of the protests. The protesters have started building pucca brick and cement structures at the sites which have led the authorities to intervene. The construction at the Singhu site has stopped at around midnight while it has not halted at the Tikri-site.

At the Tikri-site, the first pucca settlement came up on March 12. The chhappar (thatch) for the constructions were mostly built in villages and were brought at the sites. Bricks, mud and other construction materials were loaded onto the trucks and were brought at the protest sites.

Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests

One of the recently built permanent structures at the protest site is also doubling as a meeting and high-command centre for the farmers’ organization, the Kisan Social Army.

A member of the United Kisan Manch stated that the protesters cannot live in tents in this weather, and that the government has not helped them during the winter nights, hence these drastic steps are being taken.

Also See: An overview of farmers’ protests- role of Charan Singh

Samyukta Kisan Morcha members said that they are planning to finish the construction within three weeks and will accommodate 10-15 people in each house. All construction material is bought from factories and landowners in Kundli, a member of the SKM said, adding that it is being carried in e-rickshaws and tractors.