Bhopal: Situation in Badnawar block of Dhar and Mandsaur districts turned from bad to worse on the fifth day of farmers’ state-wide agitation after protesting farmers created mayhem here and vandalised shops in more than 20 places in the district.
In Badnawar farmers turned violent during the rally as they vandalised milk, vegetable and fruit shops in the town. They also staged chakka jam on four-lane road. Jam continued for two hours as a result of which large number of heavy vehicles was stranded in long queue.
Initially, market, road side hotels were open, but as soon as vendors and hotel owners came to know about loot incident, they immediately shut shop. Over the past five days, since June 1, groups of farmers turned violent in several parts of the state including – Dhar, Bioara, Indore, Jhabua, Ujjain, Ratlam and Mandsaur among other places.
At some places they clashed with traders and vegetable vendors and attacked police officials. Police had to open fire at some places to disperse violent mobs. Agitation by farmers in MP, after taking a clue from their counterparts in Maharashtra, caused prices of vegetables to soar and resulted in shortage of milk.
According to sources in Badnawar only farmers vandalised property worth Rs 30 lakh as local police witnessed the whole tantrum like mute spectators. Hundreds of farmers participated in the rally which visited different parts of the town and asked vendors to shut their shops to enforce strike. At several place, farmers entered into scuffle with the vendors particularly at Anaj Mandi, where large number of shops were opened before rally. At Jawahar Marg, rally members ransacked vegetable and fruit shops and damaged shanties and handcarts. Police party which were present there somehow managed to disperse the mob.
At four-lane road, mob looted a truck carrying bananas worth Rs 7 lakh, truck carrying water melon and truck carrying garlic. Mob also spilt milk from tanker on road here.
SDM Vijay Mandloi, SDOP Kailash Malviya, tehsildar Rakesh Sastiya, police station in-charge Sunil Gupta and others who were present on the spot made every possible attempt to control the situation, but only handful of police personnel against hundreds of agitating farmers left administration nothing but mute spectators.
Later, Kisan Sangh president Kailashchandra Patidar presented memorandum to SDM. During this, police arrested few miscreants who were involved in the loot incident. As farmers came to know about the arrest, they immediately rushed to the police station, but after they didn’t see anyone in the police station, they returned.
Farmers vandalise shops in 25 places, wreck havoc
Mandsaur: In Mandsaur, protesting farmers wrecked havoc and vandalised fruits and vegetable shops in 25 places in different areas.
They destroyed vegetable and fruits as well as vandalised tea stalls at bus stand area.
At Ganpati square, farmers entered in scuffle with local people and as a result of that five to six persons were injured in the clash. Farmers raised slogan.
Meanwhile, mob moved from the place after they saw heavy police present at the site. According to information, farmers ransacked shops situated on Mhow – Neemuch national highway near SDM bungalow, BPL square, district hospital, Gandhi square, Nehru bus stand and other part of the town. Earlier, farmers who were on strike called for a discussion meeting here at Pipliya Mandi. Over all police got as many 20 complaints related to loot and manhandling by mob. Acting on complaint lodge by one Leela bai, wife of Peerulal Bhoi, police registered case against 15 – 20 unidentified persons under various section of IPC.
When contacted Mandsaur police station in-charge Vinod Kushwah said on Monday, extra police force will be deployed in the town to avert any untoward incident as farmers declared complete bandh on Monday.
Markets empty
Bagli: In Bagli, with farmers strike entering its fifth day, all the markets were empty with no shops of vegetables or fruit open on Monday. Farmers had given a day-long bandh call and warned all the vendors to keep their shops shut. Protesting farmers vandalised few shops in the town, after farmers kept their shops open.
