Farmers block highways; police detain protesters to ease traffic

Members of farmers’ and other organisations in the region, comprising Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar, blocked national and state highways, passing through their respective districts as a mark of support to the protest against farm laws in Delhi.

The protest commenced at 12 noon, as per schedule. It was planned to continue till 3 pm. But, the police detained the agitators in parts of the region and allowed movement of vehicles on the highways.

Traffic movement on Mysuru-Bengaluru, Mysuru-Ooty, Hunsur Road, Mangaluru-Bengaluru highway and other highways were affected.

In Mysuru, the highways were blocked under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha. While agitators blocked Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway at Columbia Asia Hospital junction, Mysuru-Ooty highway was blocked at Bandipalaya near APMC Yard in Mysuru.

The police took nearly 150 activists into custody in Mysuru city and released them later. The oolice forcefully evicted Badagalpura Nagendra, president of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), M Umadevi and others as they refused to move from Mysuru-Bengaluru highway at Columbia Asia Hospital junction.

Members of Raitha Sangha, Hasiru Sene and Sugarcane Growers’ Association blocked the road near the APMC yard. Along with cattle and sheep, they blocked the road. The police took a few of them into custody when they tried to cook food on the highway.

Nanjundaswamy, a farmer, collapsed on the protest venue when the police tried to stop him from tying a green shawl on his neck.

In Mandya, agitators blocked the Mysuru-Bengaluru National Highway for 90 minutes, near VC Farm Gate, from 12 noon. They cooked food on the highway and served among themselves.

As there was traffic jam, for nearly one km, vehicles took to alternative roads. Superintendent of Police K Parashuram monitored the security arrangements.

In Hassan, Mangaluru-Bengaluru NH was blocked at Bustenahalli Cross. However, KSRTC buses and private vehicles bound for Bengaluru took to alternative route via Shantigrama. Superintendent of Police R Srinivas Gowda convinced the protesters and cleared the way.

In Chamarajangar, roads were blocked in the city, Kollegal town and Gundlupet. The police took the agitators into custody as they blocked NH-209 in Chamarajanagar.