There was a plan to break the agreement with farmers: Police

Farmers raise slogans at Singhu border during their ongoing agitation against the Centre’s farm laws, in New Delhi, on Thursday

Delhi Police's Special Cell will investigate the "conspiracy" and "criminal designs" behind the violence during the farmers' tractor parade on January 26, officials said on Thursday. The Delhi Police claimed that there was a "pre-conceived" and "well coordinated" plan to break the agreement arrived at with farmer leaders to bring international embarrassment for the government on Republic Day.

Security personnel conduct a flag march at Ghazipur border during the farmers' protest. Pics/PTI

"The Special Cell is investigating the conspiracy and criminal designs behind these unfortunate events of January 26. A preliminary assessment suggests there was a pre-conceived and well coordinated plan to break the agreement reached between Delhi Police and the leaders of farmers organisations, to indulge in violent confrontation with the security forces, to breach the sanctity of iconic and historical structures and monuments and to create an international embarrassment for the government on the occasion of the Republic Day," the police said in a statement.

It further said a criminal case has been registered and is being investigated under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and sections of IPC dealing with sedition. "The role and conduct of organisations and individuals based in India as well as those out of the country is being probed. Investigation is in progress and further details will be communicated in due course," it added.

Oppn parties to boycott President's address
Meanwhile, a day before the start of the Budget Session of Parliament, 16 Opposition parties led by the Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena and the TMC on Thursday decided to boycott the president's address to the joint sitting of both the Houses in solidarity with the farmers protesting the new farm laws.

Announcing the decision, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the 16 Opposition parties also demanded an independent probe into the Centre's role in the violence that shook the national capital during the farmers' tractor parade on Republic Day. The Opposition parties also demanded the repeal of the three farm laws.

Actor Deep Sidhu goes missing
Punjabi actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu, who has been named in connection with the violence in Delhi on Republic Day, has reportedly gone missing. He was last seen amidst the January 26 crowd that reached the iconic Red Fort by violating the planned route of the tractor march and was accused of provoking the protesters for installing a Nishan Sahib, a symbol of Sikh religion, on its ramparts.

‘FIR should be registered against BJP leaders, cops'
Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Ram Govind Chaudhary on Thursday said instead of farmers, an FIR should be registered against the Delhi police commissioner and top BJP leaders for the violence in New Delhi on Republic Day. "The chaos and the unfurling of a religious flag at the Red Fort on January 26 is a conspiracy of the Delhi police, which is under the home ministry and the top leadership of the BJP, to weaken the farmers' agitation," the SP leader said in a statement.