Curfew in MP town after farmers' protest turns violent

The farmers, responding to a call given by Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, were protesting against shortage of jute bags, mismanagement at procurement centres and involvement of middlemen in the process.

They staged a blockade at National Highway-12 (Jaipur- Jabalpur) and attacked police with sticks and set afire nearly half-a-dozen vehicles of police and local administration, the sources said.

Police lathicharged the agitating farmers, fired in the air and lobbed teargas shells to control them.

The administration first imposed Section 144 of CrPC in the town, 100 km from here. Raisen Collector Mohanlal Meena and SP I P Kulshrestha, after reviewing the situation, ordered imposition of curfew, the sources said.

The situation in Bareli was tense but under control.

Nearly a dozen police and administrative officials besides 35-40 farmers suffered injuries in the protests and police action, the sources said, adding that the injured were admitted to a local hospital.

The farmers gathered in strength at Bareli after the alleged suicide by a farmer, Bhagwan Singh Rajput, yesterday at Manpur wheat procurement centre.