A day before the Kisan Mukti Yatra was to start from Pipliyamandi, Mandsaur, to pay homage to six farmers who lost their lives in police firing and lathi-charge a month ago, the Mandsaur superintendent of police released the names of 32 people who have cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS).
They have also been booked under various cases during the farmers’ agitation in the first fortnight of June.
Since the start of the agitation, local administration, intelligence and even the chief minister have been alleging that the opium smugglers lobby was behind the agitation.
But the state intelligence department is also convinced about the links.
An official said there was no reason for the farmers’ agitation to start in Mandsaur. “Farmers in Mandsaur are quite well off. They take at least three crops, including soyabean and the lucrative opium cultivation. Most of the land is irrigated. If you look at the villagers, they may look rustic but have all the trappings of money.”
Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav, who was among the leaders of the Kisan Mukti Yatra, said this was simply a ploy. “Next, they are going to say that I have links with the opium lobby,” Yadav said.
Intelligence officers said the decision of the centre banning all trade in doda chura (poppy husk) and calling for their destruction was a sore point with the opium farmers.
{{/usCountry}}Intelligence officers said the decision of the centre banning all trade in doda chura (poppy husk) and calling for their destruction was a sore point with the opium farmers.
{{/usCountry}}State Congress spokesperson KK Mishra dismissed the police argument. “Shivraj Singh Chouhan is constantly shifting his stand. Initially he said it was the Congress that was behind the agitation (and) now he is saying that it is opium smugglers...”
Patidar samaj leader Mahesh Patidar also dismissed the allegations.
According to Mandsaur superintendent of police Manoj Singh, 95 cases had been registered during the farmers’ agitation.
In all, 262 have been named and there are over 3,000 unnamed in these FIRs, while 41 have been arrested so far.