Several farmer leaders and members onriday, held a protest by blocking the roads with tomatoes, and held an agitation.

They also protested in front of the deputy commissioner’s office. However, a prohibitory order had been promulgated in the 150 metre range around the deputy commissioner’s office. Since the protesters had violated the orders and staged a protest, the deputy commissioner did not receive the memorandum.

The DC once tried to approach the farmers, but the farmers raised slogans against him. He objected to the farmers’ dharna, in view of the prohibitory orders promulgated around his office.

 Arrested, released
Also, a war of words ensued between the farmers and the deputy commissioner. The farmers shouted slogans against the deputy commissioner and continued the dharna. Police arrested the farmers and later on released them.

Earlier, the farmers, leaders and office-bearers of the Raithya Hitarakshana Vedike staged a protest near the APMC Yard by blocking the road with tomatoes. They held a rasta roko and blocked the road for more almost an hour. The police arrived in time and convinced the protesters to clear the road.

The protesters took out a march from there and arrived at the deputy commissioner’s office and began the dharna inspite of the prohibitory orders.

The protesters stated that the farmers in the district were in a very difficult plight, in view of the fall in the prices of tomatoes. They urged the State government to intervene and announce support prices for the tomatoes and bale the farmers out of their difficulties.

B Suresh Gowda, Manjunath, Bellambari Nagaraj, Subrahmani and other leaders were present on the occasion.