New Delhi: Protesting farmers on Tuesday deviated from the pre-designated routes for their tractor rally and barged into the Red Fort after clashing with police in the city.
TV visuals showed some protesters climbing a flagpole below the ramparts of the iconic fort, from where the Prime Minister addresses the nation on Independence Day, NDTV reported.
The farmers then hoisted a sacred flag of Sikhs at a second flagpole. Thousands of others, waving the national flag, stood at the huge gates of the fort. The police were seen trying to control the crowd in vain.
Earlier, tractors took over the Ramlila Maidan outside the fort, the original site where they had planned their protest.
The farmers, who were heard saying that they will not leave Delhi, are expected to move back after negotiations with Delhi Police.
“We came here to deliver a message to the Modi government, our job is done. We will go back now,” one of the protesting farmers at the Red Fort was quoted as saying by NDTV.
“We managed to reach the Fort even though they tried to stop us. We will not stop till we reach our goal — the repeal of the three farm laws,” another farmer said.
Violence started on Tuesday morning as farmers broke barricades and entered Delhi ahead of time and veered from the agreed upon route. Videos from various spots showed them clashing with the police, throwing stones and using rods.
In a related development, one person was killed died after a tractor overturned at Delhi’s DDU Marg during the violent protest, India Today reported.
Several police officers were injured and police resorted to lathi-charge and tear gas shelling to contain the situation.
Dramatic scenes were also witnessed at ITO when a protester on his tractor ran amok and tried to attack policemen on the ground. While the protester went out of control, cops and media persons on the ground were seen scrambling out of the way of the tractor.
Also Read: Police Barricades Knocked Down Ahead Of Farmers’ Tractor Rally In Delhi
