'Jail Bharo' agitation: farmers held, released

Traffic disrupted on Mysuru-Bengaluru highway

Hundreds of farmers were taken into custody by the police for staging a ‘Jail Bharo’ agitation demanding release of water to the Visvesvaraya Canal from Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam in Mandya on Tuesday.

The protesters, under the banner of Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene, blocked Mysuru-Bengaluru highway near Visvesvaraya’s statue and raised slogans against the Centre and the state government.

A few farmers demonstrated ‘Shirasasana’ on the road to draw the attention of the people. Vehicular traffic on the highway came to a halt for a while with vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway.

Tension prevailed for sometime as there were heated exchange of words between farmers and police personnel when the latter tried to prevent them from blocking the road. Protesters raised slogans when police tried to drag them by their collars. Police immediately took the farmers into custody and brought the situation under control.

Women constables summoned

Police faced a tough time as there were no women constables to control women who were squatting on the highway to stage a protest. Women constables were summoned and the protesting women were also taken into custody. The detained farmers were taken to the police parade grounds. The protesters however, were adamant that they be sent to jail. As per the directives of Superintendent of Police G Radhika, DySP Chandrashekaraiah pacified and released them later.

More protests warned

Cauvery Raitha Hitharakshana Samithi president G Madegowda has warned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that if he does not come to the aid of farmers in the Cauvery basin, members of the samithi would stage a protest in front of the CM’s residence.

If a decision is not taken in favour of the farmers during the all-party meeting scheduled for August 14, the protests would be intensified, he warned.