Twelve die as police fires on protesting farmers in MP

Bhopal: Agitating farmers, on strike for the sixth consecutive day, on Tuesday resorted to violence, pelting stones at police, with twelve killed in police firing in Mandsaur district in Madhya Pradesh.

Curfew has been imposed in Mandsaur and Pipliamandi.

"Around 2 p.m. in order to control the agitated farmers the police had to open fire in which twelve farmers died and several others were injured," Ujjain Division Commissioner O.M. Jha, told IANS.

According to locals, the farmers resorted to stone pelting at police due to which police had to open fire.

A judicial probe in the deaths has been ordered by Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. He has also announced compensations of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the deceased. Financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh will be given to the injured.

MP CM has, however, blamed Congress for sparking violence by instigating the farmers.

However, State Home Minister Bhupendra Singh told reporters that the firing was not initiated by the police but by "anti social" elements who had entered the mob.

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Farmers also surrounded Piplya Mandi Police Station after which heavy police reinforcement was sent to control the situation.

On Monday night, farmers held a protest on the Mandsaur railway crossing.

"On Monday night, farmers near the Dalauda Police station came out on the roads for protest and broke the gates of a railway crossing. They also tried to harm the railway track by changing the angle of the metal attached to the sleeper. However it did not affect the services," Mandsaur Police Superintendent O.P. Tripathi told IANS.

Farmers are on strike from June 1 to June 10, to demand loan waiver and fair price for their produce.

On Monday, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured that the government would purchase onions at Rs 8/kg and moong dal at an agreed price and to set up a Rs 1,000 crore stabilization fund. Though the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh called off its strike, the other organisations have continued with the stir.

The state has been facing shortage of milk and vegetables, leading to price hike. Farmers threw milk on the Agra-Malwa Highway last week and barred trucks from carrying vegetables. Several parts of the state faced a similar situation.

With IANS inputs