Navdeep Singh's Release Sparks Farmer Celebrations Amid Tensions

Farmer activist Navdeep Singh walked out of Ambala Central Jail on Tuesday evening, following a bail grant by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The high court's decision came in reference to Singh's involvement in the farmers' February 13 'Delhi Chalo' march.

Singh's release sparked jubilant celebrations from farmers' groups along the Shambhu border in Punjab. Various farmer organizations honored him late Wednesday evening. Earlier, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher alleged that Haryana Police detained several farmer leaders who had gone to Ambala to escort Singh back for the celebrations. The detainees were released in the afternoon.

Initially arrested on March 28 on charges including rioting and attempted murder, Singh's detention had prompted farmers to plan a protest at the Ambala superintendent of police's office. The protest was called off after his release. Singh is notable for climbing a police water cannon during the farmers' protests against the now-repealed farm laws in November 2020.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently ordered the Haryana government to dismantle barricades at the Shambhu border on an experimental basis, a decision the Haryana government has since challenged in the Supreme Court, with a hearing set for July 22.

(With inputs from agencies.)