Section 144 ban on large gatherings was imposed in the northeastern region of the national capital on Sunday in view of the ‘Delhi Chalo March’ by farmers on February 13, an official said.

A large number of farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab are expected to march towards the national capital on Tuesday in the Delhi Chalo March organized by around 200 farmer unions.

“We have imposed Section 144 (prohibition order) of the CrPC. It is learned that some farmer organizations have called on their supporters to gather/march to Delhi on February 13 demanding a law on MSP. No one shall violate the law and Order,” said an order issued by (Northeast) Deputy Police Chief Joy Tirkey.

The order said farmers may sit at Delhi borders until their demands are met.

“Considering the behavior and steadfastness shown by farmers during protests in the past, there is a possibility of farmers/supporters mobilizing tractors/trolleys/arms from their respective districts to travel to Delhi. Farmers will also come from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajah ST, Uttarakhand, MP and other possible areas.”

The communication stated that the preventive order under Section 144 is required to save lives and properties in the area, avoid any untoward incident and maintain law and order.

“The order has five different points such as ban on gathering of public at all borders between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and nearby areas under the jurisdiction of North East district. Tractors, trolleys, buses, trucks, commercial vehicles carrying protesters are prohibited , private vehicles or horses etc. entering Delhi from Uttar Pradesh.

“The North East Zone Police are ordered to make every effort to prevent protesters from entering Delhi. It is ordered that no person or protester shall carry weapons including firearms, swords, tridents, spears, lathi, sticks and the police shall make every effort to detain such persons on the spot. Anyone found violating the order will be punished under Section 188 of the IPC,” the DCP said.

In response to the unrest, police are erecting roadblocks and deploying more than 5,000 security personnel to reinforce Delhi’s borders with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana states.

Farmers in Uttar Pradesh staged a sit-in on the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway on Thursday, leading to massive traffic chaos as police blocked their protest march towards Delhi.

Several farmer associations, mainly from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, have called for protests on February 13 demanding a law guaranteeing minimum support prices for their produce, a move they have agreed to withdraw from their agitation in 2021. one of the specified conditions.

“We are in touch with our counterparts in Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh to know how many farmer organizations will participate in the protest and the expected number. We have adequate arrangements in place to handle any law and order situation,” a senior Delhi police officer explain.

“Adequate security plans have been put in place. There will be multi-layered security checkpoints at the borders. Vehicles entering the national capital will be properly checked. We have put up roadblocks at different borders of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Police will be wearing riot gear. ” the police officer said.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)