Isolated protests keep NCR on alert, hit traffic

With farmers calling for the resumption of the "Delhi Chalo" campaign on Wednesday, heightened security measures and stricter vehicular checking at all border points that the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan share with Delhi gave rise to chaos on arterial roads in the morning, with several stretches witnessing long tailbacks and snarls.

The standoff between the police and farmer groups led by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (NonPolitical) and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Morcha (KMM) continued for the ninth day at the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana, around 200km from Delhi.

The Haryana Police on Wednesday said they received information that farmers from Rajasthan had entered Manesar through Rewari and Tauru, and were trying to cross over to the national capital. Police said hundreds of these farmers, who had gathered to march towards Delhi, were stopped in Manesar. The garmers continued to protest at the spot where they were halted till late evening. "We will keep trying (to enter Delhi) but till then, we will sit on protest and support our brothers," said Moti Lal, a farmer leader.

Vehicular traffic was disrupted for an hour on the DelhiGurugram border in Sirhaul on Wednesday morning as police stopped vehicles to check if they were ferrying farmers.