Karnataka - Gulbarga   

Fasting farmers turn violent in Gulbarga

By Our Special Correspondent

GULBARGA, FEB. 8. The 12-day indefinite fast by the red gram growers under the banner of Red Gram Growers Hitaraksha Samiti (RGGHS) on Tuesday took a violent turn with the irate farmers throwing stones at police personnel and government doctors, who had come to perform medical check-up.

The farmers are on an indefinite fast in front of the Agriculture Marketing Produce Committee office in the city.

At least three police personnel, including the circle inspector of Chowk Police Station, James Meningis, sub-inspector Karekal and the constable Siddaiah, suffered serious injures.

Eyewitness accounts

According to eyewitness accounts, trouble started when a team of doctors and para-medical staff attempted to conduct the mandatory medical check-up on the agitating farmers. The farmers and leaders refused to undergo medical check-up and engaged in a heated argument with the doctors. Meanwhile, a section of the farmers started throwing stones at the ambulance and smashed its windowpanes with steel chairs and boulders.

After the doctors made a hasty retreat, the police team, led by Mr. Meningis, arrived on the spot. Even as the police personnel were getting down from their vehicles, the farmers started attacking them.

Mr. Meningis and Mr. Karekal received head injuries and were immediately shifted to the hospital.

Arrested

Later, additional police force arrived and dispersed the farmers. They also arrested a few farmers, including the president of the samiti, Ramesh Duttargoan, in connection with the violence.

The Superintendent of Police, K. Ramachandra Rao, and the chief executive officer of the zilla panchayat and in-charge Deputy Commissioner, M.S. Srikar, visited the spot. They said that the violence was "unprovoked and uncalled for."

The representatives of the agitating farmers later told The Hindu , on condition of anonymity, that the incident was the result of the alleged indifferent attitude of the Government to the agitation. Although the farmers launched the hunger strike 12 days ago, not a single ruling party politician or official had visited them.

They pointed out that the State Government only understood the language of violence and not peaceful agitations. They said the Government had deputed two Ministers to talk to the leaders of the Bijapur Samagra Neeravari Hitarakshana Samiti who were on indefinite fast at Alamatti in Bagalkot district and the same Government had not bothered to show any interest in solving their problems.

Demands

Their main demands include an increase in the minimum support price for red gram from Rs. 1,740 for first grade and Rs. 1,690 for second grade to Rs. 2,000 per quintal; withdrawal of restrictions imposed at the procurement centres regarding the quantum; and release of at least Rs. 100 crores for the procuring red gram directly from farmers.

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