Farmers' protest: MP remains peaceful on day one

Farmers in Madhya Pradesh today launched a 10-day agitation as part of a nationwide stir to press demands including loan waiver and better prices for crops.

Day one of the agitation passed off peacefully in the state, without impacting normal life, police said.

Western Madhya Pradesh had witnessed large-scale violence during the farmers' protest last year.

Mandsaur -- the epicenter of last year's agitation where six farmers were killed in police firing -- remained peaceful today amid tight police security.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit the district on June 6, the first anniversary of farmers' deaths.

Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh (RKMM) convener Shivkumar Sharma said in Bhopal today that the agitation covers 22 states, and will involve farmers boycotting the markets in urban areas.

"The farmers' organizations have named the agitation 'Gaon Bandh' (village shut-down). Cultivators have been asked not to come to the markets in urban areas to sell farm produce, including milk," he said.

On June 10, the last day of protest, there will be a 'Bharat Bandh', he said.

Mandsaur Collector O P Shrivastava told PTI that there was no shortage of vegetables and milk in the district, as all markets remained open.

"Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Singh and I visited villages and found them open," he said, adding that no untoward incident had been reported as of 7 pm.

"Five companies of the Special Armed Force (SAF) of police are keeping vigil across the district," SP Singh said.

The adjoining district of Neemuch too did not witness any shortage of vegetables and milk, though markets were closed.

No farmer turned up at the grain market in Neemuch.

In Indore, vegetables and fruits supply remained unaffected. Prices of veggies, in fact, tumbled, as there were few buyers.

However, the agitation may hit the supply of milk and vegetables in the next few days.

Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) Makrand Deouskar said the state remained peaceful.

But another police official said, on the condition of anonymity, that police expect trouble when agitators start stopping farmers from bringing their produce to the cities.

Three persons were arrested in Agar Malwa district today for circulating a video of last year's protest on two WhatsApp groups, allegedly to foment trouble, said superintendent of police Manoj Singh.