Farmer leaders protesting SIR arrested, released on bail

Two leaders, spearheading farmers' protest against Mandal-Becharaji Special Investment Region (SIR), were arrested for violating notification under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, police said today.
However, they were later released on bail.
"Lalji Desai and Sagar Rabari (convenors of Jamin Adhikar Andolan Gujarat (JAAG) leading farmers' protest against state government decision to notify SIR) were arrested last night for violating notification under section 188 of IPC," Mandal police sub-inspector (PSI) J D Jhala told PTI.
Section 188 of IPC is regarding disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.
"Under this notification, people are not allowed to burn crackers or posters, which they did. These people allegedly burnt posters of Maruti on the backside of the proposed plant," Jhala said.

"They were released on a bail after being produced before a magistrate this morning," he said.

An FIR was lodged against 10 people at Mandal police station for violating a notification under section 188 of the IPC on August 15.
Three months after protests erupted over SIR at Mandal-Becharaji, where the proposed plant of Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) is expected to come up, the Gujarat government on August 14, bowing down to farmers' demands, downsized the SIR to eight villages from 44.
JAAG had decided to intensify the agitation if the state did not withdraw SIR by August 15. Notwithstanding the decision, they went ahead with their planned programme to hoist the tricolour at Hansalpur on Independence Day.

Following the flag-hoisting that was held in village Dalod (after permission for the same at Hansalpur was cancelled), Mandal police registered an FIR against 10 persons who addressed the mass gathering there, including Lalji Desai, Sagar Rabari, Kanubhai Kalsariya and others.