CHANDIGARH: Thousands of farmers muscled their way into the city from Mohali, breaking barricades and braving water cannons and mild lathicharge to submit a memorandum at Raj Bhawan to repeal the three controversial agri-marketing laws.
The scenes were slightly similar to the ones witnessed seven months back when farmers were stopped from proceeding to Delhi.
But this time, no untoward incident was reported with the protesters restraining themselves and not resorting to any violence.
It all started around 10am, when farm activists began gathering at Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Sector 62, Mohali.
Functionaries of farm unions aligned with Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) — including Balbir Singh Rajewal, Mansa Singh Ruldu, and local organiser Satnam Singh Tanda of Kisan Ekta (Chandigarh) —gave speeches.
The protesters left the shrine around12noon.
Farmers reached YPS chowk in 15 minutes and crossed the barricades without much effort.
Mohali had deployed around 500 cops to manage the protest.
Senior superintendent of police Satinder Singh, sub-divisional magistrate Jagdeep Sehgal, SP Harvinder Singh Virk and SP Harbir Singh Atwal were present at the YPS crossing.
About 300 metres from YPS chowk, the protesters reached the first barricade set up by Chandigarh Police on the road dividing sectors 51 and 52.
Police used water cannon but could not stop farmers from pushing aside the barricades and marching into the city by1pm.
Police tried to hold back the protesters again on the road dividing sectors 43 and 44, and then on the road dividing sectors 34 and 35, but failed.
The next flashpoint was at the Aroma light point.
Police parked PCR vehicles in the middle of the road and resorted to a mild lathicharge, measures that did not work.
Police were able to stop a majority of the protesters only with a desperate attempt in which they parked CTU buses in middle of the road at government press chowk (sectors 8, 9, 17, 18 light point).
Here too, police resorted to a mild lathicharge.
Deputy commissioner Mandip Brar accepted the memorandum on behalf of the governor from representatives of farm groups.
A group of activists still managed to reach the roundabout between sectors 4, 5, 8 and 9, which is 1km away from Raj Bhawan.
They were, however, called back by the organisers.
By 3pm, the farmers started to return.