In unexpected developments, hundreds of protesting farmers swarmed the historic Red Fort on Republic Day as their 'Kisan Gantantra Parade' turned violent at several places in New Delhi.
A large group of farmers riding tractors and motorcycles thronged the Red Fort carrying the Tricolours and farmer union flags. A group of youth even climbed up the flagpole on the 17th-century landmark and put up a saffron-coloured pennant.
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While some visuals from the spot showed farmers swarming the Red Fort, many others were seen engaging with the Delhi Police near the ITO intersection in central Delhi. ITO witnessed chaos since security personnel were outnumbered by the protesters.
Other video clips showed farmers clash with the policemen, and trying to remove a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus parked across the ITO road by pushing it out of way with a tractor.
The police fired tear-gas shells and lathi-charged the protesters on multiple locations as farmers remained adamant to move towards the Red Fort. Later, Rapid Action Force was deployed at the ITO intersection.
The farmers, after a confrontation with the police that lasted for around 40 minutes, moved towards Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, which houses the offices of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Delhi Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
