The farmers’ protests drew stream of people in counter-protests specifically at the Singhu Border. The counter-protesters came through police barricades in broad view of the police.

A group of around 150 men claiming to be local residents got past three layers of security barricades on Friday to reach the protest site at the Singhu border to Delhi, staged a brief protest of their own claiming that the farmers’ agitation had affected their livelihood, and clashed with farm-protesters as both sides pelted stones at each other, all in full view of police.

The local protesters gathered near GTB Memorial at the Delhi-Haryana border around noon and raised slogans, asking protesters to vacate the area and saying that they would not tolerate any insult to the Tricolour in a reference to the violence on Republic Day. Police said that they were from nearby villages of Singhu, Narela, Bawana, Alipur, and Kundli.

Within an hour, the group had easily breached the police barricades and could be seen arguing with farmers, demanding that their protest be wound up and the road cleared. The argument soon spiralled into violence, with the group attacking tents and shelters at the site, and both sides indulging in stone-pelting. Police resorted to teargas shells and lathi charge to bring the situation under control.

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

“The protesters entered peacefully without drawing much attention, from the side that is not barricaded. Once they reached the barricades, we tried to stop them. But they went around the barricades and got through. There were around 100 in number,” said a sub-inspector at the site.

Reactions come from Left

Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday blamed Bharatiya Janata Party/Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh of sending ‘goons’ to Singu borders where hundreds of farmers are protesting against the contentious three farm-laws. Earlier in the day, the situation at Delhi’s Haryana border at Singhu deteriorated as violence broke out at the border protest site after a huge number of people claiming to be locals reached the site to vacate the area, which led to a clash between them and protesting Kisans. In order to maintain the law and order situation, Delhi Police had resorted to baton charge and use tear gas shells.

Condemning the attack on farmers, CPI(M) demanded answers from Union Home Minsiter Amit Shah. “BJP /RSS goons brought in to attack Farmers at #SinghuBorder while Police and RAF stationed there remain mute spectators. Usual Sanghi playbook of provocation being enacted. CPIM strongly condemns this attack. Home Minister must answer.” CPI(M) tweeted.

Without taking names of any media organization, the CPI(M) said that the ‘Godi Media’ which was calling the people, who attacked the farmers, as locals are infact the goons of Hindu Sena, RSS and BJP. “Godi Media is calling these attackers as locals. They are Hindu Sena, RSS, BJP goons mobilized to attack farmers with the Police and RAF remaining mute spectators. Familiar script of this Govt. Shame!”, the Left party tweeted.

“While Godi media pushes the narrative of a clash between “locals” and farmers, their cameras tell a different story. BJP, RSS goons bought in, pelt stones at the farmers with active Police connivance as they allow the goons in and remain, silent spectators, while the goons attack,” CPIM’s another tweet read.

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

The SHO of Alipur police station, Pradeep Kumar Paliwal was injured during the clashes. Prompt intervention by farmer-union volunteers and police personnel helped the situation from escalating. The volunteers from the farmer-unions stopped the attackers which prevented the situation from turning ugly. “They are not locals, but hired goons. They were throwing stones, petrol bombs at us. They attempted to burn down our trolleys also. We are here to resist them. We would not leave the place,” PTI quoted Harkirat Mann Beniwal, 21, from Punjab’s Khana district, as saying.