Traffic Resumes at Khanauri Protest Site; Farmers Demand Compensation for Losses. People across Punjab have expressed relief and satisfaction following the removal of farmers’ protest sites from the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. After more than a year of disruptions due to the agitation, traffic movement resumed on Friday, bringing much-needed normalcy to commuters and local businesses. Residents and daily travelers, who had long been inconvenienced by roadblocks and encampments, praised the Punjab Government for taking decisive action. “This was long overdue. For over a year, we suffered due to these unnecessary protests that blocked our roads and caused economic hardships,” said Jagtar Singh, a shopkeeper from Patiala. “Finally, the government has shown the courage to clear these obstructions.”
Many citizens labeled the protesters as troublemakers who disrupted public life under the pretense of a farmers’ movement. “Real farmers work in fields, not on highways, creating blockades. This agitation had turned into a way to extract benefits by pressuring the government,” said Amanpreet Kaur, a working professional from Ludhiana.
With major protest sites now cleared, local businesses and transport services have resumed normal operations. People have also applauded the government’s firm stand against those who, they claim, were misusing the farmers’ name for personal and political motives. “The administration has acted in the interest of the common people, and we appreciate this bold step,” said Ramesh Kumar, a transporter from Sangrur.
The removal of protest encampments has also led to increased police deployment in sensitive areas to prevent any further disturbances. Authorities have assured that strict action will be taken against any attempts to disrupt law and order again. Traffic movement resumed at the Khanauri farmers’ protest site on Friday, more than a year after the Punjab-Haryana border point was closed due to the agitation. A senior police official confirmed that vehicles were allowed to pass after barricades set up to prevent the farmers’ march to Delhi were removed in the evening.
The resumption of traffic at Khanauri followed a similar move at the Shambhu border point on Thursday. The Shambhu-Ambala Highway was reopened a day after Punjab Police detained protesting farmers and demolished their temporary structures. Haryana Police had earlier cleared roadblocks on their side at both Shambhu and Khanauri.
Additionally, several farmers detained in Ropar jail have also begun a hunger strike, according to a statement issued by farm unions.
On Thursday, protests erupted across Punjab, including in Moga, Tarn Taran, Muktsar, and Faridkot, as farmers demonstrated against the previous evening’s crackdown on agitators.
