Hubballi: The Mahadayi farmers, who were released by the court on the conditional bail, reached Navalgund on Saturday night, amid prohibitory order clamped in town by the district administration.
The police have also stepped up the security arrangements in the town as precautionary measures as the farmers had planned to celebrate the release after entering the town.
CCTV cameras were also installed at Raitha Bhavan in Navalgund, where the farmers held a programme soon after arrival.
The farmers were given rousing welcome by activists of various Dalit and pro-Kannada organisations when they reached Gadag.
They bursted crackers, distributed sweets and a bike rally was held in the town. Dharwad High Court Bar Association president B D Hiremath and Dharwad Bar Association president V D Kamareddy, who accompanied the released farmers, have provided legal assistance to the farmers.
Meanwhile, many Congress leaders, including its State working president Dinesh Gundurao, minister H.K. Patil have visited Yamanur village and met the women who were beaten by the police last month.
Distributing sweets to family members of the arrested farmers, district in-charge minister Vinay Kulkarni assured that the cases against all farmers will be withdrawn a once the chargesheet is filed.
“Farmers should maintain peace during their protest. The government has been making all efforts to resolve the issue by seeking PM’s intervention and exploring legal options,” Mr Gundurao said.
