On March 19, 2025, police in India’s Punjab state dismantled protest sites and detained hundreds of farmers who had been demonstrating for over a year, demanding better crop prices and legally-backed state support. The farmers had established camps along the Punjab-Haryana border since February 2024, after authorities halted their march toward New Delhi.Â
The clearance operation proceeded without resistance, as farmers cooperated with authorities. Senior police officer Nanak Singh noted that no force was necessary during the eviction.Â
Among those detained were prominent farmer leaders, including Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the latter requiring ambulance assistance due to an extended hunger strike.Â
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, which authorized the eviction, expressed support for the farmers’ demands but urged them to address their grievances with the federal government, highlighting the economic impact of prolonged highway blockages.Â
This incident underscores ongoing tensions between Indian farmers and the government, reminiscent of the 2021 protests that led to the repeal of contentious farm laws after a year-long demonstration.Â
