Haryana Police Revoke National Security Act Against Farmer Leaders
The Haryana police on late Thursday released a statement stating that the National Security Act (NSA) will be imposed on the farmer leaders. But the decision has been withdrawn. The Ambala police on Friday revoked the imposition of NSA, 1980.
The IGP of Ambala said that the police have decided to reconsider invoking the NSA. Clarifying the earlier stance taken by the Haryana police, Sibash Kabiraj, IGP Ambala Range said that they will not invoke NSA against the farmer leaders. Ambala police wrote on X, “This is to clarify to all concerned that the matter of invoking provisions of the National Security Act on a few farm union leaders of district Ambala has been reconsidered and it has been decided that the same will not be invoked.”
NSA not being invoked @police_haryana @AdgpAmbalaRange @DGPHaryana pic.twitter.com/CTFftMNEi5
— Ambala Police (@AmbalaPolice) February 23, 2024
The police further appealed to the protestors to cooperate with the authorities and to maintain law and order. “Haryana Police appeals to the protestors and their leaders to maintain peace and co-operate with the authorities in maintaining law and order,” the statement read.
The Haryana police actions have been highly criticized lately. The police aggression has led to the injuring of 150 farmers and one 22-year-old Shubkaran Singh was killed at the state border. The Haryana police used tear gas and rubber bullets against the farmers. Meanwhile, the union government in a bid to suppress the protest, has blocked social media accounts and posts supporting farmer’s protests. The social media giant X said that they do not agree with the Indian government’s move.
National Security Act (NSA), 1980 is a law in India aimed at maintaining public order and national security. This act gives the government provision to detain individuals suspected of posing a threat to national security or public order.
Earlier on late Thursday, the Ambala police had announced that the National Security Act would be invoked and any loss to the government and private property during the protest would be compensated by attaching the property and seizure of the bank accounts of the farmers.
However, the police officials have clarified that the Act was never formally invoked.
