The police said the notice had been issued ‘by mistake’.
The Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday withdrew an order asking fuel stations in Ghazipur district to not sell petrol to tractor owners so that they are allegedly prevented from participating in the proposed farmers’ rally on Republic Day, The Hindu reported. The police said the notice had been issued “by mistake”. Tens and thousands of farmers protesting the new agricultural laws have threatened to intensify their agitation on January 26 by organising a massive tractor rally during Republic Day celebrations. In recent days, thousands of more farmers from Uttar Pradesh and other states have embarked on their tractors, lorries and trucks to participate in the event. A controversy erupted in Ghazipur after a police station allegedly issued orders directing petrol pumps to refuse selling fuel to farmers. Copies of the purported order, which was issued by the station house officer of Suhwal, were widely shared on social media. The order said the plying of tractors was prohibited in view of the high-alert in the state on Republic Day, and that Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which prohibits the gathering of four or more people in an area, is imposed in the district.
