Police open fire to disperse farmers in Tumkur District

By The HINDU

TUMKUR FEB. 21. Police fired five rounds in the air at Kibbanahalli Cross, near here, on Thursday when a group of farmers turned violent and pelted the police with stones, injuring at least ten police personnel, including an Additional Superintendent of Police.

About 100 farmers resumed the road blockade at the circle this morning, demanding 18-hour power supply to irrigation pumpsets. They brought with them 60 pairs of bullocks and placed bullock carts across the Bangalore-Honnavar highway. Unable to persuade the farmers to lift the blockade, the Additional SP, Hemant Nimbalkar, and the Assistant Commissioner, S.P. Shadakshara Swamy, ordered the arrest of the farmers around 3.30 p.m. The police were constrained to use force as the farmers tried to take cover behind the cattle and the carts. The farmers retaliated by throwing stones. A few stones hit Mr. Nimbalkar and others.

The police then resorted to a lathicharge, and burst tear-gas shells after which they fired several rounds into the air to quell the mob. Shops and other establishments in the area downed shutters. Police removed the carts with the help of travellers who were stranded on the road, and restored traffic.

However, the police continued to hunt for the farmers in and around the circle. It was alleged that the police entered shops, restaurants and houses, and dragged people out and beat them up before arresting them. A strong police force was mobilised at Kibbanahalli Cross. The Superintendent of Police, R. Hitendra, was camping at the spot.

Farmers have been blocking traffic in many parts of the district since Monday and the police arrested hundreds of them last night. However, the KPTCL units, including its sub-station at Kibbanahalli, were unaffected, according to an Assistant Engineer of the KPTCL there.