Proestting sugarcane farmers gatecrash into legislature

Driving trucks with sugarcane, a group of farmers Sunday 'gatecrashed' into "Suvarna Vidhana Soudha", the legislature complex in northern district of Belagavi protesting Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's reported cancellation of his visit to meet royts agitating over payments due from sugar mills.

In a strong reaction, Kumaraswamy described those who barged into the legislature complex as "goondas" and accused them of defaming the entire farming community.

Police said about ten farmers in four trucks forcefully entered the complex, but all were detained and the vehicles removed immeidately.

Farmers in Belagavi have been protesting for the last few days demanding clearance of their pending arrears by sugar factories for the cane supplied and announcement of purchase price for sugarcane for the current season as had been done in neighbouring Maharashtra.

They had withdrawn their protest on Friday claiming that the chief minister has agreed to meet them in Belagvai Monday to discuss their issues.

About 10 farmers broke open the gate of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha and took four lorries inside, while keeping four more outside," Belagavi Police Commissioner D C Rajappa said.

They were agitated claiming that the Chief Minister had promised to hold meeting with them at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha Monday, but now called them to Bengaluru, he told reporters.

Farmers, who were agitating, have been taken into custody and all the lorries driven outside, he said adding We will take further action in accordance with law."
Asked whether there was any security lapse, he said There was security, we had made heavy deployment near the Deputy Commissioners office as farmers were gathering there. They came here by diverting our attention."