Tension prevailed at the Mohali-Chandigarh border on Thursday as protesting farmers attempting to march towards Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh clashed with police amid heavy security deployment and road barricading.
Farmers from different parts of Punjab had gathered to press for several demands, including restoration of cooperative loan limits, a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), and increased support for agriculture-related infrastructure. The protest also led to traffic diversions at two major border points connecting Mohali and Chandigarh.
As protesters tried to cross police barricades erected at the Punjab-Chandigarh border, security personnel stopped them from entering the Union Territory. Police resorted to tear gas shelling after some demonstrators allegedly attempted to scale barricades and move towards Chandigarh.
Despite the action, farmers continued advancing while raising religious slogans, including “Bole So Nihal”. Police later used water cannons to disperse the crowd and push protesters back from the barricaded zone.
Kanwardeep Kaur, who visited the border checkpoints to review the arrangements, said extensive barricading had been put in place and discussions with farmer leaders were continuing. She said the administration was maintaining complete vigilance to ensure law and order.
Senior Chandigarh Police officials, including the SSP, remained present at the site and monitored the situation throughout the protest.
Among their major demands, farmers sought river water distribution based on the riparian principle and demanded the repeal of certain provisions of the Punjab Reorganisation Act. Protesters also opposed the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill 2025 and Seed Law 2025 introduced by the Centre.
The agitating farmers reiterated their long-pending demand for a legal guarantee on MSP for all crops. They also sought restoration of cancelled cooperative credit limits and uninterrupted electricity and canal water supply during the paddy cultivation season.
Authorities diverted traffic on the Chandigarh-bound road behind the Punjab School Education Board office and at the Matour barrier. Officials said traffic movement remained normal on other routes and efforts were being made to minimise inconvenience to commuters.