Barricades to halt farmers stops traffic in its tracks in UT, Mohali

Heavy traffic disruptions were reported across Chandigarh and Mohali on Wednesday as barricades set up by police to prevent protesting farmers from entering Chandigarh caused severe congestion.

- HT Correspondents

CHANDIGARH/MOHALI: Heavy traffic disruptions were reported across Chandigarh and Mohali on Wednesday as barricades set up by police to prevent protesting farmers from entering Chandigarh caused severe congestion.

With extensive security measures in place to halt the arrival of protesting farmers from Punjab, under Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM)'s Chandigarh sit-in call, commuters travelling from Zirakpur, Mohali, Kharar, Dera Bassi and nearby areas found themselves stuck in serpentine queues.

Nearly 3,500 police personnel were deployed across major entry points to block farmers from reaching Chandigarh.

Police maintained strict monitoring, checking every vehicle entering the city, verifying ID cards, and inspecting inter-state and private buses for farmers attempting to enter in disguise. Commuters covering their faces were asked to uncover them for identification and ID cards were verified.

While commuters were allowed entry after proper verification, five protesters attempting to enter the city were detained under preventive measures, said SSP Kanwaldeep Kaur.