Farmers agitation takes violent turn

Protestors demand hike in FRP at Solapur & Pandharpur; Throw bags of blood in front of minister’s house

The agitation for the demand to increase Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) in Solapur and Pandharpur turned violent on Friday as protestors broke windows of state-owned buses and burnt tyres of vehicles. Protestors of Bacchu Kadu led Prahar Sanghatana (Organisation) broke bags of blood on the road.

Farmers are demanding FRP of Rs 2400 for sugarcane and protesting in Kolhapur, Solapur and parts of western Maharashtra. On Friday, independent legislator Bachchu Kadu-led Prahar organisation’s supporters reached Solapur and protested in front of the residence of Subhash Deshmukh, minister for cooperative and marketing. The organisation held a blood donation camp which was stalled by the police. The denial of permission for the camp resulted in clashes between protestors and police.

One of the protestors broke a bag with blood in it and threw it in front of the police. The incident created tension and later police detained protestors. Atul Khupase of Prahar was leading the protests.

Meanwhile, in Pandharpur, protestors pelted stones at state-owned buses. Property worth Rs 2 lakh of the Maharashtra State Transport Corporation (MSRTC) was damaged in the stone pelting incident.

Ravikant Tupkar, leader of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) led the protest. He said, “The sugar factories are offering Rs 2100 per tonne for sugarcane when we are protesting.”

“Are the sugar mill owners waiting for farmers’ death in agitation to allow FRP of Rs 2400 for sugarcane?” he questioned.