Police detain farmer leaders in Belagavi to stop sugarcane protest
Authorities detained several leaders, including Chunnappa Pujeri, as farmers attempted a jail bharo agitation over sugarcane pricing.
Police in Belagavi detained several farmer leaders on Thursday to prevent a scheduled jail bharo agitation. According to The New Indian Express and Deccan Herald, the detention included Rajya Raitha Sangha president Chunnappa Pujeri and other leaders as they were leaving the Mukti Math premises in Bhutaramanhatti village.
The farmers, organised under the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene, were protesting a sugarcane pricing dispute. They had demanded a price of Rs 5,500 per tonne, which includes Rs 4,500 from sugar factories and a Rs 1,000 support price from the state government.
Public Works Department and District Incharge Minister Satish Jarkiholi announced on Wednesday night that district sugar factories had agreed to pay Rs 3,600 per tonne. He requested farmers withdraw the protest to allow the crushing season to begin, but Pujeri rejected this figure, stating they want Rs 3,650 per tonne.
Pujeri accused the government of double standards, alleging they remained silent during highway blockades but deployed police to stop this movement. He also accused Chief Minister D K Shivakumar of betraying farmers.
Police Commissioner Prakash Nikam said prohibitory orders had been clamped and leaders who did not cooperate were detained. In response to the police action, hundreds of lawyers in Belagavi boycotted court proceedings and demonstrated at Chennamma Circle.
Hasiru Sene Honorary President Shashikant Guruji said farmers should not come to Belagavi due to the prohibitory orders and stated they would announce the next course of protest.