Additional security forces in Delhi after farmers' protest turns violent

A peasant died and around 80 policemen were reportedly injured as the tractor rally carried out by farmers in protest against the Centre's farm laws turned violent in the national capital earlier in the day.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday evening held meeting with top security personnel to take stock of the situation.

Delhi violence: Union Home Minister Amit Shah takes stock of situation

In the meeting, a decision to deploy additional forces were taken, which was attended by Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and Delhi Police Commissioner SN Srivastava.

According to MHA sources, high officials of the Delhi Police had earlier met Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and updated him about the security situation in the national capital, reports UNI.

Violent clashes erupted earlier in the day when a section of farmers decided to enter Delhi to register their protest against the three contentious farm laws, much ahead of the time they were granted permission by the Delhi police.

Dramatic scenes of violent clashes were witnessed when the farmers reached the ITO area of Central Delhi.

Braving the tear gas, lathicharge by police and breaking barricades, the protesters stormed into the heart of the national capital Delhi and captured the Red Fort as police seemed going outnumbered. 

While the farmers claimed the deceased was hit by a bullet, police said he had died after his tractor overturned. 

Footage of the incident showed the casualty resulted as the victim's tractor rammed into yellow Delhi Police barricades and oveturned.

In some visuals, the dividers on the streets of Delhi were seen vandalised, allegedly by the farmers.

The farmers reportedly entered into Delhi through the routes which have not been allotted for the protesters.

The situation rapidly went out of control as farmers drove their tractors into the iconic Red Fort.

Protesting farmers climbed the ramparts and tried to put up yellow flags of Sikh religious significance.

It took hours for the police to remove the protesters from the 400-year-old Mughal-built monument.

Several opposition leaders, including Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, condemned the violence.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blamed the Centre for the violence.

Since Nov 26, 2020, thousands of farmers have gathered at the border of Delhi, which houses the Prime Minister's residence, protesting against the three new farm laws which was enacted by the Centre through an Ordinance and later controversially passed by Parliament.