In Pictures: The Riots that shook the Nation on Republic Day

On January 26, the agitations against the Centre’s Farm Laws devolved into an orgy of mindless violence, as protesting mobs went on a rampage in the nation’s capital. The Centre has been completely unable to quell the agitations, which have been going on for nearly two months, as protestors camped at Delhi’s borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh all these days.

It all began with a tractor rally that agitating farmers took on Republic Day. Despite there having been assigned a route for the rally by the Delhi police, protestors broke through several police barriers and ran amok, unleashing violence and damaging public property.

It all began with a rally… Image Credits: Twitter

The rally, as seen from above.

Protestors during a tractor rally near the Singhu border crossing in Delhi, India, on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021 | Image Credits: BloombergQuint

Agitators are stopped at a barricade during a tractor rally near the Singhu border | Image Credits; BloombergQuint

Agitators on motorcycles and cars entering Delhi | Image Credits: Twitter

Agitators, upon entering Delhi, gave up the planned route and destroyed several police barricades when Delhi Police refused to allow the protestors into certain areas of the city. The protests soon took an extremely violent turn.

The violent agitators overpowered the police and captured a crane from the police | Image Credits: NDTV

Farmers ride the crane after breaking a police barricade on the occasion of India’s Republic Day in New Delhi, India, January 26, 2021 | Image Credits: Reuters

Agitators running over barricades and destroying at one of Delhi’s border areas | Image Credits: PTI

A barefooted Nihang Sikh wielding a sword atop the police barricades | Image Credits: Twitter

Agitators armed with swords and sticks attack a policeman in Delhi Image Credits: PTI

A policeman in riot gear lies on the ground, with his helmet thrown aside, as agitators overpower him | Image Credits: Twitter

A rioter armed with an axe | Image Credits: Twitter

A protestor on horseback attacking police and crossing the police barricades | Image Credits: Reuters

Agitators on tractors clash with police. Along with the Indian tractor, the Communist hammer and sickle can also be seen | Image Credits: Greater Kashmir

Farmers break the police barricades on the Ghazipur border on Republic Day in New Delhi | Image Credits: PTI

Agitators protesting against the Centre’s farm laws, armed with bats and sticks | Image credits: Twitter

More armed rioters pouring into the national capital | Image Credits: Twitter

Protesting farmers remove the barricades after breaching the routes during their tractor rally at Ghazipur border, in New Delhi | Image Credits: ANI Photo

Rioters damage a public bus with swords and sticks in Delhi | Image Credits: Twitter

Rioters ram their tractors into a bus | Image Credits: Twitter

Rioters inleash choas on the streets of the nation’s capital | Image Credits: Twitter

Rioters found their way to the Red Fort and, removing the Indian tricolour, they hoisted Sikh and Khalistani flags instead. More than a 100 children and artists were trapped at the Red Fort as the rioters did their worst to the fort complex.