BIJAPUR: At least 20 persons were injured when police resorted to lathicharge on a group of protesters who allegedly threw stones at the vehicle of Bijapur MP Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal at Hirebevanur village in Indi taluk on Saturday. Some police personnel were also injured in the incident that took place outside the Jnanayogi Shivakumar Sugars Ltd. premises.

All of them have been treated at the government hospital in Indi. The police have registered cases of rioting and obstruction of a government servant on duty against the offenders.

Trouble began around 4.30 p.m. when Mr. Yatnal, who is chairman of the factory, and his associates came out of the factory premises in their vehicles. Those who had gathered there to support the fast being undertaken by Shivanand Patil, Congress MLA from Basavanabagewadi segment, raised slogans against Mr. Yatnal, and some among them reportedly threw stones at the MP's vehicle.

The police, who were present there, dispersed the mob by resorting to lathicharge. Mr. Shivanand Patil, who is one of the directors of the factory, and some of his associates, have been observing a fast since Thursday seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities in the management of the factory. They said Mr. Yatnal and his associates had been trying to gain absolute control of the factory.

There was tension since noon when a number of supporters of both groups started arriving at the factory. While supporters of Mr. Patil remained outside the premises, others, particularly sugarcane growers supporting the management, gathered inside the compound.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Yatnal said the factory was not able to clear dues against cane supply as a rival group was obstructing transportation of sugar from the factory. While authorising the management to take steps for the smooth functioning of the factory, the farmers declared that they would stand guard as the factory sent out their produce to the market. After informing the police of this the decision, around 25 truckloads of sugar was sent out without much resistance from the supporters of the MLA.

However, according to the police, the protesters threw stones at the vehicles of Mr. Yatnal which followed the goods carriers out of the factory. However, the MLA's supporters said they only raised slogans against Mr. Yatnal and did not throw stones. Vithal Katakdonda, one of the promoters of the factory and a close aide of MLA, alleged that police resorted to lathicharge at the behest of Mr. Yatnal.

Meanwhile, Congress workers, particularly followers of Mr. Shivanand Patil observed a bandh in Basavanabagewadi town on Saturday in support of the agitation. They handed over a memorandum to the tahasildar.

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