One killed in police firing

In what could be described as a violent beginning for the 12-day-old BJP government in Karnataka, Siddalingappa Churi, a farmer, was killed and five others were injured in police firing at Haveri town, near the state capital, on Tuesday.

The farmers were protesting shortage of fertilisers ahead of Khariff sowing process and set ablaze four buses and scores of shops in the town and on the busy national highway which links Pune and the state capital.

The condition of one of the five farmers injured in the firing is critical.

Similar violent protests were witnessed in many neighboring towns — Motebennur, Bedagi and Shiggaon, and Bailhongal in Belgaum district.

These protests prompted Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa to convene a meeting of top bureaucrats to review the law and order situation as well as stocks of fertilisers and seeds.