For three hours, from 12 noon to 3 pm Saturday, farmers protesting against the Centre’s new farm laws blocked several roads across the country to repeal the three laws. The blockade disrupted traffic on many highways even as farmer unions took steps to ensure there was no repeat of the Republic Day violence when a section of the protests spiralled out of control.Villagers, farmers and supporters carrying Kisan Ekta flags and banners gathered at key intersections and toll booths on highways.


The government was on alert. Right through the day, all district police chiefs were in the field. Ahead of the chakka jam, the Centre, on February 5 midnight, snapped Internet services at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur, all the three sit-in protest sites until 11.59 pm February 6. Ambulances and essential service vehicles were allowed to pass through; several leaders crisscrossed the state and underlined to protesters the need to keep the peace; the blockade wasn’t allowed to extend beyond the stipulated 3 pm.Raising slogans against the Centre, they parked their tractors or squatted on the road.