The Haryana government on Friday invoked the National Security Act against farmer leaders, and police officials are seeking details of property loss in Ambala district, according to ANI reports. 

In an official statement shared on X, the Ambala police said it has started the process to detain the farmer leaders “to maintain law and order and to prevent a disturbance in the social harmony”.

Ambala Police wrote, “From February 13, 2024, continuous efforts are being made by the farmer organizations to break the barricade imposed on Shambhu Border by the farmers regarding their march to Delhi, and daily attempts are being made to spoil the law and order by pelting stones at the police administration and creating ruckus."

During this period, significant harm has been inflicted on both government and private property through encroachment, as stated by the police. The administration had previously said that if the protesters were responsible for causing damage to government and private property, the losses incurred would be recovered by seizing their assets and freezing their bank accounts.

“If public property is damaged by the agitators during the movement, there is an amendment in the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act 1984 (PDPP Act) under the provisions of the Supreme Court in which, the people who caused damage to public property during the movement or called for the movement and the officials of that organization are held responsible for any damage caused," the statement read. 

Under the Haryana Public Administration's Property Recovery Act 2021, there is a provision to compensate for the loss incurred to government property. In cases of damage to public property, this act allows for the attachment of the property and the confiscation of bank accounts belonging to the individuals responsible for the loss.

“Proceedings to compensate for the loss of government property during the farmers' protest, attachment of property and seizure of bank accounts of the protestors have been initiated," it added as quoted by ANI.

In addition, police have also initiated the National Security Act (NSA) against the farmer leaders. "Proceedings have been initiated under the NSA National Security Act 1980/NSA against the chief officials of farmer organizations and the agitators," the Ambala police said on X (formerly Twitter).

In connection with the action related to attaching properties and seizing bank accounts, sources said, notices have been issued against the local leaders of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) in Ambala district which includes its president Amarjeet Singh Mohri, its spokesperson Tejveer Singh, core committee member Jai Singh Jalbera, and other farm activists including Manjeet Singh (village Garnala), Gurmeet Singh (Majri), Kuldeep Singh (Mohri) and Sukhchain Singh (Bharog).

Image source: PTI