Traffic at Chilla border hit as farmers attempt to enter Delhi
Samad Hoque
New Delhi, February 8
Traffic on the Delhi-Noida border came to a standstill throughout the day today, causing hours of inconvenience to commuters as farmers from Uttar Pradesh attempted to enter the Capital.
Additional force deployed
- Hundreds of farmers from Greater Noida villages marched on foot to demand compensation for their land, which was acquired by the NTPC in the 1980s for setting up a thermal power project
- Tension escalated as clashes erupted between the police and farmers. Amid the chaos, a 22-year-old protester fainted
- Security measures were heightened at the Delhi-Noida border, with police barricading the entry points
Hundreds of farmers from Greater Noida villages marched on foot to demand compensation for their land, which was acquired by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) in the 1980s for setting up a thermal power project. Two groups of protesters were halted from reaching the Chilla border (Delhi-Noida border). One group was stopped near the Sector 15-Film City road, while the other group was prevented from advancing beyond the Mahamaya flyover.
We were promised adequate compensation and employment. Despite our efforts to communicate our demands to the government, no assistance has been provided. — A farmer
The Bharatiya Kisan Parishad (BKP) had announced that they would march on February 8 towards Parliament to raise their demands. The farmers have been protesting since last year, staging sit-ins twice — in March and December — at the NTPC office in Noida’s Sector 24, demanding uniform compensation for their lands.
A protesting farmer stated, “We were promised adequate compensation and employment. Despite our ongoing efforts to communicate our demands to the government, no assistance has been provided.” Another farmer remarked, “We are simply demanding what rightfully belongs to us. We have been making these demands for the past two years, but neither the NTPC nor the government has been willing to address our concerns.”
As protesters, including women, attempted to reach the Chilla border, they were intercepted by the Uttar Pradesh Police. Tensions escalated as clashes erupted between the police and farmers, with the latter alleging zlathi-charge. Amid the chaos, a 22-year-old protester fainted, prompting the police to swiftly transport him to the hospital. Security measures were heightened early in the day at the Delhi-Noida border, with police barricading entry points and deploying additional personnel in the area. Deputy Commissioner of Police, East, Apoorva Gupta stated, “We received intelligence regarding farmers planning to enter Delhi and march towards Parliament. Consequently, we have bolstered security arrangements at the border to preempt any breach of law and order within Delhi’s jurisdiction.”
“We have deployed ample force and set up barricades at border points. Currently, six companies, along with the local police, are stationed,” he added.
A senior UP police official said, “One company of forces, two commando teams and 250 police personnel have been deployed in the Noida area to prevent the protesters from reaching the border.” However, this resulted in long queues of vehicles at the border.
Commissioner of Police, Noida, Laxmi Singh, posted on X, “Senior officials of Commissionerate, Gautam Budh Nagar, are engaged in peaceful negotiations with the farmers, ensuring everyone remains on-site. Traffic has been diverted, and the situation is under control.”
