MP: Farmers' protest turns violent, five killed

Bhopal: At least five farmers have been killed and four others were wounded after the Madhya Pradesh Police opened fire in an attempt to control a rioting mob demanding fair price and loan waiver in Mandsaur district on Tuesday, 6^th June 2017. 

The police resorted to firing to gain control on the agitating farmers after their protests turned violent as they allegedly set ablaze at least 10 trucks, one Dial 100 vehicle and three motorcycles in Pipliamandi area. 

While two of the farmers were killed on the spot, another succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. 

In view of farmer' deaths, the Rashtriya KisanMazdoor Sangh warned to give greater shape to the movement and announced a state-wide shutdown tomorrow.

However, state Home Minister Bhupendra Singh has denied that the police resorted to firing. He also denied imposition of any curfew or internet ban in the restive Mandsaur area.

It is to be noted that in view of the agitation carried out by the farmers, the authority imposed a ban on the internet services in the area while also restricting the bulk text messages. The internet services were closed altogether in Mandsaur, Ratlam and Ujjain areas.

Meanwhile, farmers resorted to violence in other parts of Ratlam and Mandsaur, forcing police to use force to disperse the crowd. In Suwasara area, police lobbed tear gas shells as farmers damaged public property and attempted to set a fire police vehicles.  

The protesting farmers damaged railway tracks and railway crossing gates in Daloda area of Mandsaur. They also reportedly set afire vehicles on Mandsaur-Neemuch road and pelted stones at the police.