Farmers blocked the Jalandhar-New Delhi National Highway during the chakka jam in Jalandhar (PTI photo)
NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH: Protesters on Saturday blocked several key roads in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, while scattered demonstrations were held in several other states during a three-hour chakka jam called by the farmer unions agitating against the Centre s new farm laws.
Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait declared that their protest on Delhi s outskirts will continue till October 2 and an effort will be made to connect every village with the agitation.
Nearly 50 protesters were detained at Shaheedi Park in the national capital, amid stepped-up security by authorities which suspended internet at the protest sites of Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri as well as adjoining areas for 24 hours till Saturday night and closed entry and exit facilities at 10 prominent Delhi Metro stations for few hours.
No untoward incident was reported in any part of the country during Saturday's protests though scores of people were detained in several states, including 50 at Shaheedi Park in the national capital which was brought under a thick security blanket in light of the violence during the farmers' tractor parade on January 26.