After withdrawal of agitation, farmers, police clash in Madhya Pradesh

In a hurriedly called press conference on Monday, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan blamed “a few people for giving a wrong direction to the farmers’ protest”.

Within 24 hours of the announcement made by a farmer leaders’ faction and BJP leaders about the withdrawal of agitation, farmers clashed with police in Neemuch on Monday. The clashes resulted in injuries to at least two police personnel and many farmers.

Agitating farmers spilled milk in Dhar district.(Chhotu Shahstri/HT Photo)

Police caned protesters and lobbed tear gas shells to control the crowd. A number of two-wheelers were also damaged.

In a hurriedly called press conference on Monday, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan blamed “a few people for giving a wrong direction to the farmers’ protest”. “If this does not stop, such people will face consequences,” said Chouhan.

He said a Rs 1,000 crore price stabilisation fund would be created. Onions would be purchased at Rs 8 per kg at 48 places in 22 districts.

Police said the trouble started in Neemuch when farmers staged a chakka jam at Bharbhadia Square and police intervened to clear the traffic. When the farmers didn’t budge and allegedly pelted stones, they were caned. However, farmers alleged that police indulged in violence and unnecessarily beat up farmers. “The police beat up even those who were not taking part in the agitation,” said Tarun Baheti, a farmer.

Bikes damaged in a clash between farmers and police in Neemuch on Monday. (HT Photo)

The constables injured in stone-pelting are Vishal Narwale and Kailash Kumare. Superintendent of police, Neemuch, Manoj Kumar Singh, led the team as the situation worsened.

Abhishek Deewan, city SP, said a report had been lodged against nearly 200 persons, including 30-40 named. Eight of the accused had been arrested and 40 bikes seized from the spot.

On Sunday, RSS affiliated Bharatiya Kisan Sangh announced that the agitation had been called off after a meeting with Chouhan. However, the Bharatiya Kisan Union leading the agitation refused to do so.

Policeman airlifted for treatment

Pawan Yadav, an assistant sub-inspector, who received serious injuries in an eye in Ratlam during stone pelting by agitating farmers on Sunday, was airlifted to Chennai for treatment on Monday. Chouhan announced the state government will bear all the expenses of his treatment.

Amit Singh, SP, Ratlam, told HT that he had video footage of how a Congress worker allegedly tried to incite people to attack police and torch their vehicles.

Singh said, “Cases have been filed against 51 people and over 100 unidentified people in connection with the violent incident on Sunday evening.”

(With inputs from Chotu Shastri in Dhar and Mustafa Hussain in Neemuch)