Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait had declared that protesting farmers would vacate the Ghazipur border protest site by December 15. This marks the end of the year-long agitation that concluded with a truce between the central government and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM).

At the Ghazipur border, Delhi Police personnel were seen removing barricades put in place to prevent the protesting farmers from entering Delhi. On the other hand, protestors were seen packing up their tractor trolleys as they geared up to return home.

While most protestors have already left for their respective homes, the ones who are still at the Ghazipur border protest site say they are most likely to vacate by Wednesday evening.

READ: Farmers gone, but Singhu border yet to be reopened for motorists

Some farmers who spoke to India Today said their leader, Rakesh Tikait, had asked them to vacate the Ghazipur border protest site by the December 15 deadline.

On their last day at Ghazipur border, farmers were seen dancing to patriotic and religious songs. A ‘havan’ was also performed at the UP Gate, under the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, for the well-being of the farmers.

Rakesh Tikait took to Twitter to post a video of him and his supporters leaving the Ghazipur border protest site. He can be seen surrounded by hundreds of supporters who had gathered at the spot.

“13 months struggle on roads. Today we return home. Extend gratitude to the citizens of the country,” Tikait said in another tweet.

The clearance of the Ghazipur protest site comes as a relief for commuters who had to look for alternate routes to and from the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border. With Delhi Police setting up barricades on the one side and hundreds of farmers setting up camp on the other, the last 13 months have witnessed regular traffic snarls on the route.