Farmers’ march to Jantar Mantar faces barricades at Khanauri border

Fifty-one farmers are expected to begin the initial leg of the Kisan Bachao Padyatra from Datasinghwala village in Punjab, carrying soil from the martyrdom site of farmer Shubhkaran Singh as they head towards Jantar Mantar.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), led by Jagjit Singh Dallewal, is organising the march against the proposed India-US trade deal. Haryana Police has placed barricades and imposed traffic restrictions at the Khanauri border, between Haryana’s Jind district and Punjab’s Sangrur district, to stop marchers from entering Haryana.

Jind Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Singh said the diversions apply only to vehicles using the Khanauri crossing to travel to or from Punjab; other major roads in the district remain open. For Delhi residents, the stated destination is Jantar Mantar, the capital’s designated protest stretch.

Khanauri was a major site during the 2024 farmers’ agitation. Shubhkaran Singh, a 21-year-old farmer from Balloh village in Bathinda, died after suffering a head injury during clashes at the border on February 21, 2024; the circumstances of his death were disputed. Traffic arrangements at Khanauri are being monitored as the march proceeds.