5 killed after Madhya Pradesh farmers’ stir turns violent

BHOPAL: Five persons were killed on Tuesday as a farmers’ agitation turned violent in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh, prompting the district administration to clamp curfew in the area.

Some eyewitnesses alleged that the victims suffered bullet wounds, but Mandsaur district authorities denied that police fired on protesters who were on a rampage.

The deceased were identified as Kanhaiyalal Patidar, Bablu Patidar, Chain Singh Patidar, Abhishek Patidar and Satynarayan. Abhishek and Satynarayan died en route to a hospital in Indore, police said.

Farmers in western Madhya Pradesh have been on protest since June 1, demanding higher minimum support prices. Mandsaur collector SK Singh said a magisterial inquiry has been ordered.

As tension prevailed, mobile internet service were suspended in Mandsaur, Ratlam and Neemuch districts to check spread of rumours. Singh also told PTI that police categorically told him that they did not fire at the protesters.

Curfew has been imposed in Pipalya Mandi police station area of Mandsaur district where the incident took place, while prohibitory orders restricting movement under Section 144 of CrPC have been imposed in rest of the district, the collector said.

“Police have told me that neither did they fire nor did they have any orders to fire,” Singh added. In camera autopsy of bodies was going on and the cause of death will be known after it, the collector said, adding that families of the deceased will get financial aid.

According to eyewitnesses, protesting farmers torched vehicles and indulged in stone pelting in Parshvanath area under Pipaliya Mandi police station limits of the district.

The CM announced a financial help of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the deceased. “I request the farmers to be patient. Do not fall in the trap of anyone. The government stands with farmers. We will solve all problems through discussion,” Chouhan tweeted while blaming Congress for the violence.

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— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) June 6, 2017

Superintendent of police Amit Singh announced a reward of Rs 10,000 each for information about absconding farmer leaders DP Dhakad, Rajesh Bharava, Bhagwati Patidar and others who were allegedly involved in violence in the district on Sunday.