Hundreds of farmers detained in India for demanding higher crop prices for over a year

Police in the northern Indian state of Punjab have detained hundreds of farmers who have been protesting over rising crop prices for more than a year. Authorities have also used bulldozers to dismantle their makeshift camps.

Punjab police, in particular, detained protest leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal this morning. Dallewal was taken away by ambulance after he had been on a hunger strike for months.

“We did not have to use force as there was no resistance. The farmers cooperated well and sat in the buses themselves,” senior police officer Nanak Singh told the ANI news agency. He added that the farmers were informed in advance.

The arrests come amid talks. The farmers have been protesting for more than a year, demanding that the government legislate a minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.

The farmers have set up camp on the border of the neighboring state of Haryana, blocking a highway, and their protest march to the capital, New Delhi, has been stopped by the authorities.

Farmer leaders and the government have held several rounds of talks since last year; however, no result has been reached so far.

The seventh round of talks between the farmer leaders and the central delegation ended on Wednesday, and the next meeting is scheduled for May 4, 2025.

Tags: India, protests