Five killed as farmers’ protest in MP’s Mandsaur turns violent

TIL Desk/National/Mandsaur(MP)/ Five persons were killed on Tuesday as the farmers’ agitation turned violent in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh, prompting the authorities to clamp curfew in the trouble-hit area.Some eyewitnesses alleged that the victims suffered bullet wounds, but Mandsaur district authorities denied that police fired on the protesters, who were on a rampage.

While the Congress called for state bandh on Wednesday, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan blamed the opposition party for instigating the violence. Mandsaur collector S K Singh confirmed death of five persons and said a magisterial inquiry has been ordered.

As tension prevailed, mobile internet service were suspended in Mandsaur, Ratlam and Neemuch districts since morning to check spread of rumours. Singh also said that police categorically told him that they did not fire at the protesters.

Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu described Madhya Pradesh as ”an island of peace” in the wake of violent protests over killing of five farmers in police firing in the Mandsaur district yesterday.  The minister, while appealing to protesters to call off their stir, also asked the main opposition party Congress not to politicise the issue unnecessarily.