Madhya Pradesh farmers' protest: Mandsaur DM heckled, ex-MP detained on way to meet farmers

Mandsaur: Farmers demanding debt relief and better crop prices today “heckled” Mandsaur collector when he tried to pacify them, a day after five persons were killed in violence during their agitation. Also, former MP from Mandsaur, Meenakshi Natarajan, was detained when she was on her way to meet the family members of the deceased. Farmers in western Madhya Pradesh are protesting since 1 June demanding higher minimum support prices (MSP) for their produce, among others. Five persons were yesterday killed as the farmers’ agitation turned violent, prompting the authorities to clamp curfew in the trouble-hit area. [caption id=“attachment_3526171” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of a farmer protesting against the government in Nagpur. PTI[/caption] According to eyewitnesses, the protesting farmers had torched vehicles and indulged in stone pelting in Parshvanath area under Pipaliya Mandi police station limits. Curfew remained in force in Pipalya Mandi police station area of the district and Mandsaur town, while prohibitory orders restricting movement under section 144 of CrPC are also imposed in the rest of the district. Farmers in large numbers blocked a road today in Berkheda Panth area, around 18 kilometres from here. When Mandsaur Collector SK Singh and Superintendent of Police Omprakash Tripathi reached the spot to mollify the protesters, the farmers allegedly manhandled the administrative officer. “When the protesters started misbehaving and pushing the collector, we made way for him to come out safe,” Berkheda Panth’s sarpanch Dinesh told PTI. Ujjain Range Inspector General of Police V Madhukumar, who is camping in Mandsaur, told PTI over the phone: “I have also come to know that something happened with the collector. But I exactly do not know what happened.” When contacted for his reaction, the collector refused to comment on the incident. Asked if the police will take action against those who misbehaved with him, the district magistrate said, “It was the law-enforcers’ job.” The IG, meanwhile, said that the mortal remains of the five persons who died yesterday were cremated this morning. He said the situation in Mandsaur was under control. Meanwhile, former MP and Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan was stopped and detained at Nahargarh when she was on her way to meet the family members of the deceased. However, other Congress leaders are on their way to Mandsaur to meet the kin of the deceased. The Madhya Pradesh bandh called by the Congress today affected some western parts of the state, but petrol pumps, markets and other establishments remained open in Bhopal. The district collector had yesterday said the police categorically told him that they did not open fire at the protesters. After the incident, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in his tweet, had blamed the opposition party for instigating violence. According to the collector, a magisterial inquiry has been ordered in yesterday’s incident. Mobile and Internet services have been suspended in Mandsaur, Ratlam and Neemuch districts to check the spread of rumours.