Following the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday, which claimed the lives of eight people, including four protesting farmers, the Ghaziabad police locked down the UP-Gate border with Delhi on Monday as a precautionary measure. Farmers opposing Central agricultural regulations have used the UP-Gate as a rallying point, and the Ghaziabad-Delhi carriageway of the Delhi Meerut Expressway, which passes through the site, has been closed since December last year.
On Saturday evening, farmers from UP-Gate came to Lakhimpur Kheri after four farmers were reportedly struck down by a convoy of cars related to a union minister while protesting against the Central agricultural rules. According to police, farmers allegedly beat four passengers of one of the convoy cars to death in revenge.
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The event has heightened emotions and sparked a lot of political wrangling over the issue. Farmers demonstrating at the UP Gate have also expressed their displeasure with the happenings. As a precaution, traffic on the Delhi-Ghaziabad highway has been halted, according to Ghaziabad police.
Since November of last year, farmers have been demonstrating at the UP-Gate, seeking the repeal of three agricultural regulations and the approval of new legislation to enhance the minimum support price (MSP) system. Because national highways 24 and 9 have been blocked due to farmer protests over the fatalities in Lakhimpur Kheri, the Delhi Traffic Police have created minor traffic diversions and issued advice for vehicles travelling between Delhi and Ghaziabad through the UP Gate.
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Motorists travelling from Sarai Kale Khan should use Vikas Marg through road numbers 57 A and 56 to Anand Vihar, from whence they may take the Ghazipur paper market stretch to enter Ghaziabad, according to the advice. Motorists heading to Ghaziabad can use the Delhi-Meerut Expressway till the Ghazipur roundabout, after which they are diverted to the Anand Vihar railway station road, according to a traffic police official. The expressway’s northbound carriageways have been blocked since November of last year owing to a farmers’ protest at the UP Gate.
