Sign bond or bail is cancelled, MP cops tell 7000 farmers who protested in Mandsaur last year
An order issued by the police headquarters on Wednesday also cancelled leaves for the personnel for 10 days beginning June 1, citing the farmers’ agitation and the month of Ramzan.
Madhya Pradesh police have decided to make 7,000 farmers, who had participated in the last year’s protest in Mandsaur that ended with the death of six of them in police firing, to sign an undertaking that they would not take part in the protest marking its first anniversary on June 1, HT has learnt.
If the farmers participated in the protest, they would have to pay Rs 25,000 and the bail granted to them would stand cancelled.
Several messages on local WhatsApp groups and social media across the state have criticised the stance taken by the police. Some of these messages alleged that the police was “working to suppress the farmers” and their voice.
An order issued by the police headquarters on Wednesday also cancelled leaves for the personnel for 10 days beginning June 1, citing the farmers’ agitation and the month of Ramzan.
“We are getting the bonds (readied) to make sure there is a peaceful environment,” said Harinarayanchari Mishra, deputy inspector general of police, Indore. “The bond is just for the protesters who had participated in the protest last year, and who were booked by the police.”
Besides the undertaking from the farmers, the police said it would provide security to those going to the mandis (marketplace) to sell their produce.
Farmers alleged that the BJP government was trying to divide them with the help of police.
“By issuing such statements, the government is dividing us. We will stop the farmers in a peaceful manner from going to the city but if police interfere, farmers will agitate against this too,” said Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Anil Yadav said.
