Five Farmers Killed In Police Firing, Here's What Has Happened During Protests In MP So Far

The farmers¡¯ protest that began from Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh has now spread to several districts in the state. The protests began on June 1, where farmers presented various demands to improve the conditions of their livelihood. On Tuesday, the protest turned ugly after six farmers were killed and eight others injured in two separate incidents of police firing.

A.M Faruqui

Here is a timeline of what has happened:

June 1: A group of farmers began protests with their demands

BCCL

Farmers start a 10-day protest, demanding favourable prices for their crops and other produce.

June 4: Farmers clashed with the state police

BCCL

Farmers and Police clash in Sehore, Indore and Bhopal. Six policemen are injured. Members of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) postpone the farmers¡¯ protest after meeting with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Ujjain.

However, this announcement actually intensifies the protest. Rashtriya Kissan Mazdoor Sangh and Bhartiya Kisan Union, leading the protest, say the agitation has not been paused.

June 5: Chief Minister announced relief for farmers

India.com

The Chief Minister began blame game at a conference. He announced an INR 1,000 crore fund for price stabilisation fund at times when prices destabilise after a bumper crop.

June 6: Five farmers were killed in police farming

Five farmers are killed after Police fired at farmers protesting in Mandsaur district. Farmers then block the roads and vandalise property. Authorities install curfew in vulnerable areas, and the Ministry of Home Affairs also send about 600 personnel to control the unrest.

Madhya Pradesh Farmers' Protest: Toll plaza vandalised in #Mandsaur, Rs. 8-10 lakhs looted. pic.twitter.com/LW15R0k8QO

¡ª ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2017

June 7: Collector "heckled"

AP

Mandsaur Collector, S.K Singh is heckled by relatives of those killed by the police. Witnesses said that stones were also pelted.

After initially denying that Police firing killed the five farmers, MP Home Minister, Bhupendra Singh, has now for the first time acknowledged that the farmers died from police firing. "Death of the five farmers was due to police firing. It has been established in the probe. I have said earlier that the farmers may have died in police firing. I have conceded this earlier, various channels have also run it,¡± he said.

Meanwhile, several leaders from Opposition parties, led by Congress vice-President, Rahul Gandhi, tried to meet the protesting farmers but according to reports, they were taken into preventive detention.