Hubballi/Belagavi: As violence over the Mahadayi tribunal interim verdict escalated during a bandh to protest it on Thursday, two farmers, devastated at being denied water for their crops, tried to commit suicide by consuming poison in Nargund.
The condition of the farmers, Nandeesh Mathad and Sangamesh Charantimath, who were rushed to the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Hubballi, is said to be critical.
The police had a hard time controlling the frenzied mobs as farmers in Navalgund and Nargund towns ransacked government offices and set furniture and documents on fire. The offices of the tahasildar, BSNL and public works department were burnt and a police jeep and a bike set on fire in Navagund, forcing the district administration to impose prohibitory orders.
The police did a lathicharge to disperse the protesting farmers stoning the office of the postal department and KCC bank in Ron and Nargund. Dharwad deputy commissioner, S.B. Bommanahalli, who rushed to Navalgund, said 54 protesters had been detained for the violence.
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“We have imposed prohibitory orders and will deploy more police from neighbouring districts to step up security. Central paramilitary forces are also expected,” said superintendent of police, Dharmender Kumar Meena.
While the protest was largely peaceful in Hubballi-Dharwad, activists of pro-Kannada organisations and farmers hurled atones at the All India Radio station, the court complex and shops in Dharwad.
Effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were burnt. Business establishment downed shutters and schools and colleges closed in Dharwad and Gadag for the bandh.
In Belagavi, a series of dharnas and protests brought traffic to a grinding halt in various parts of the city. A massive dharna led by former Union minister, Babagouda Patil, held up traffic for several hours on the national highway at Kittur .
At a press conference later, farmers' leaders , Sidagouda Modagi and Kalyanrao Muchalambi warned the protests would continue until the Kalsa-Banduri project was approved.
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A meeting of farmers' organisations will be held on July 31 in Belagavi to draw up an action plan to bring pressure on the authorities to resolve the water dispute at the earliest. “Farmers will stage dharnas before the houses of all MPs in the region every day to wake them up to their duties,” Mr Muchalambi added.
Meanwhile, despite the heavy security outside MP, Suresh Angadi's house, farmers staged a dharna before it on Thursday, demanding he support their cause.
