The Haryana police used water cannons and tear gas shells to disperse a large number of farmers who tried to block National Highway-44 near Shahbad in Kurukshetra on Tuesday afternoon during a protest over the alleged delay in paddy procurement.

The farmers briefly blocked the highway around 1.30 p.m., following which the police intervened. Several farmers were injured, though Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni said none suffered serious injuries. The road remained blocked for around 10 to 15 minutes, he said.

Kurukshetra Superintendent of Police Chander Mohan said the administration had offered to hold talks with the farmers, but they still attempted to block the highway. “We are very clear that the National Highway cannot be blocked,” he said, adding that some policemen were also injured in the clash.

Mr. Charuni said the farmers had been protesting against the government’s failure to begin paddy procurement despite increasing arrivals in mandis. He said the farmers had given the government time until September 22 after the Deputy Commissioner intervened during a panchayat meeting on September 16.

“The arrival of paddy is increasing rapidly. More than two lakh quintals have already arrived in this region. Eight to 10 lakh quintals may have already arrived in the mandis, but procurement has not started,” he said.

He alleged that the delay was deliberate and linked to corruption, claiming that physical verification of paddy acreage had not been completed. Referring to last year’s experience, Mr. Charuni alleged that inflated and fictitious acreage, including land where paddy had not been cultivated, was uploaded on the government portal without action against those responsible.

The All India Kisan Sabha, Haryana, condemned the police action, alleging that the government was deliberately delaying procurement and imposing various conditions on farmers. State president Master Balbir Singh and general secretary Sumit Dalal also alleged that limits were being imposed on the quantity of crop that could be procured from individual farmers and that farmers were facing difficulties operating procurement-related portals.

The AIKS leaders said the protest had been announced in advance by the BKU (Charuni), but alleged that the government and administration remained “insensitive and anti-farmer”.