Belagavi: Farmer leader Basavaraj Malali along with 20 other fellow farmers were booked under Section 506 of IPC, for preventing government officers from discharging their duty by the city police on Tuesday.
Hundreds of sugarcane farmers under the flagship of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangh and Hasiru Sene gheraoed the DC’s office and locked the main gate of the office for over four hours on Monday, demanding release of arrears due to farmers by various sugar factories.
On the other hand the Malali welcomed the police move to register cases against the farmers, saying that such acts will help intensify the protest against anti-farmer government policies.
Meanwhile, Deputy commissioner N Jayaram has written to the government alleging poor security. District minister Satish Jarkiholi said that legal action will be initiated against anybody who violates the law of the land.
Commenting on non-payment of sugarcane bills to farmers, he said private sugar factories have conveyed to the government their inability to clear the dues due to the fall in sugar prices in the international market. CM Siddaramaiah will take decision on the issue, the minister added.
