India, March 6 -- The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) suspended their march to Chandigarh as the Punjab Police thwarted the farmers' attempt to reach the state capital for a week-long dharna beginning Wednesday.

SKM leaders said they will decide the next course of action in a meeting on March 7 in Ludhiana.

Police put up multiple checkpoints across the state and security was stepped up at all entry points of the Union Territory. The police action came after talks between the Punjab government and SKM leaders broke down midway on March 3 after CM Bhagwant Mann "walked out of the meeting in a huff" and blamed the farmer unions for turning Punjab into a 'dharna state'.

The SKM, a conglomerate of more than 30 farmer bodies, had given the call ...