Farmers Protest: Over 200 Republic Day Artists Rescued After Being Stranded Near Red Fort

The red Fort area witnessed chaotic scenes for hours as the protesters pelted stones at police and damaged vehicles.

New Delhi: Nearly 200 artists, including children, who took part in the Republic Day parade, were rescued after they got stranded near Red Fort on Tuesday after farmer’s tractor parade turned violent and protesters broke barriers and stormed the Mughal era monument.

Delhi Police said the artistes were later safely rescued by personnel after being stuck for long hours in the afternoon, provided refreshments and subsequently escorted away.

As per latest inputs, these artists were stranded near the Red Fort since 12 noon because of the farmers’ tractor rally. It was only around 7.30 PM that the Delhi Police rescued these artists from the Gazetted Officer’s (GO) Mess in Daryaganj and transported them to the Rashtriya Rangshala Camp in Dhaula Kuan.

“There were around 300 artists including children at the Red Fort. As the situation developed, we provided them with food and shifted them to a safe place, Daryaganj Mess,” DCP (North) Anto Alphonse said.

The farmers’ tractor parade which was meant to highlight the demands of the farmer unions dissolved into anarchy on the streets of the national capital during the day as hordes of rampaging protesters broke through barriers, fought with police, overturned vehicles and delivered a national insult — hoisting a religious flag from the rampart of the Red Fort, a privilege reserved for India’s tricolour.

The red Fort area witnessed chaotic scenes for hours as the protesters pelted stones at police and damaged vehicles. On the other hand, the police personnel tried to control the mob by baton-charging them and lobbing tear gas shells.

Because of the violent protests, several roads across Delhi were closed which led to traffic snarls on arterial routes. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) also halted operations at multiple metro stations citing security concerns.

Delhi Police has also issued a statement saying that 83 of its personnel suffered injuries in violent clashes with protesters.