India’s police threaten to cancel protesting farmers’ passports as critics decry ‘fascist’ state

“We have identified those involved in violence coming to Haryana [the northern Indian state next to New Delhi] from Punjab… We have identified them with CCTV cameras and drone cameras,” Joginder Sharma, the deputy superintendent of police of Ambala, said on Thursday. Ambala is the district in Haryana where hundreds of protesters have gathered.

“We will request the ministry and embassy to cancel their visas and passports. Their photos, names and addresses will be given to the passport office,” added Joginder.

The protest was sparked by the death of 21-year-old farmer Shubhkaran Singh, who was killed near Khanauri, a town in the state of Punjab, allegedly during clashes with the police on February 21. Twelve security personnel were also reportedly injured in the clashes.

The march came to a halt at the village of Shambhu, near Haryana, about 125 miles (201 km) away from the capital, as a large police contingent used tear gas, rubber bullets, and what protesters described as pellet guns.

Indian authorities have locked down New Delhi amid the violent clashes, the latest of which took place after the government and the farmers’ union failed to reach an agreement.

The main opposition Congress Party said the Haryana police’s threats raised concerns about India’s tilt towards authoritarianism.

“Have we become a fascist state that if you protest your passports and visas will be cancelled? This is a first even by the very low bar that has been set to intimidate farmers,” Manish Tewari, a senior Congress leader and member of parliament, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Those subjected to this coercive action are free to contact me. Our Law Chambers will fight for them pro-bono.”

Senior Supreme Court lawyer and human rights activist