Tens of thousands of angry Indian farmers stormed New Delhi's historic Red Fort to protest new agricultural laws, clashing with police in several areas, forcing officers to use tear gas and batons as the country marked its constitution day this week.
Hundreds of farmers scaled the walls of the iconic monument. Live video of the chaos showed police officers using flash grenades to disorient the protesters who were on foot and aboard large farm tractors. Some farmers were also seen wielding large sticks, which they used against police.
Despite efforts to disperse the crowd, protesters were able to breach the barricades placed around the Red Fort on the same day as the country's annual Republic Day normally marked by a massive parade in the center of the Indian capital, which was held this year as well despite concerns about the extent of COVID-19 cases nationwide.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present at the parade.
The rally was meant to be a peaceful one with hundreds of thousands of farmers driving through the city in a convoy of tractors. Officials had given the protesters permission to pass through certain routes.
The melee on Tuesday came after months of protests in New Delhi that capital have become a significant challenge for Modi's administration, which has failed to come up with a solution. Protesters are calling for lawmakers to scrap proposed new agricultural laws they say will put their livelihoods at risk.
Several rounds of talks between farmers and government officials have failed and are now in a stalemate.
Confrontations and violence broke out after some protesters reportedly diverged from the agreed route. New Delhi had already prepared the route and closed down at exits and stations along the protest path.
"Outside the Delhi police headquarters tear gas and batons were used, protestors also attacked the police buses stationed there," a leader of one of the farmer's unions said.
India's Republic Day is a celebration of the first time the country's constitution went into effect in 1950 after it gained independence from British rule.
