The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) leaders intensified their ongoing protest against sugar mills by driving sugarcane-laden trucks to the Suvarna Soudha premises here on Sunday. This resulted in tense moments and culminated in the arrest of around 30 farmers.
The trucks that had been parked by the protesting farmers in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office were taken out to Santi Bastawad village where the Suvarna Soudha is located. They forced open the main gates and parked the vehicles in front of the second gate, near the police outpost.
The police on duty stopped them from moving further. They also foiled their plans of trying to open the lock of the second gate by crushing it with boulders.
The farmers shouted slogans against the government. They demanded that Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy hold a meeting of stakeholders in Belagavi instead of Bengaluru. They claimed that the Chief Minister had promised to hold the meeting with them and factory owners in Belagavi itself. They alleged that some factory owners had brought pressure on the Chief Minister to shift the venue to Bengaluru.
KRRS leader Jayashree Ramanagouda alleged that Deputy Commissioner S.B. Bommanahalli was being controlled by district in-charge Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi.
The protesters said they would not leave the premises till senior officials arrived and ordered factories to pay the arrears. The police tried to pacify them and return to the original protest venue of Rani Channamma circle. But when their efforts failed, the police arrested the farmers.
The arrested KRRS leaders were taken to Hire Bagewadi police station. The police also moved out the trucks. They then sealed the entire premises and locked the two gates. A large number of personnel were deputed around the structure.
Meanwhile, the farmers alleged that the police had manhandled them. They alleged that KRRS leader Ashok Yamakanamaradi had been pushed around and suffered bruises on his face. He was admitted to the district hospital later.
The KRRS leaders said they would spread the agitation to all taluks of the district and keep the momentum going till the winter session of the State legislature.