Hubballi: When district in-charge Minister Vinay Kulkarni visited Navalgund town on Sunday, he faced the wrath of the farmers who were assaulted by the police personnel. They also lashed out against the government for failing to resolve Mahadayi dispute.
During a peace committee meeting, the farmers claimed that the police were drunk and had beaten them and detained their family members after entering their houses. Angry farmers showed the bruise marks by removing their shirts in the presence of all elected representatives present in the meeting.
“The policemen have severely beaten my son before detaining them, though he was suffering from fever. Several police personnel had consumed alcohol while flogging my son, who is studying for diploma in Dharwad. They also verbally abused us,” said Shantavva Tegginamani of Arekurahatti village.
The farmers complained that the police did not even spare schoolchildren and detained them by lodging false charges. They said that while detaining farmers in Alagawadi village they damaged bikes and tractors. Many farmers, who had feared arrest and absconded, have now returned to their houses.
The minister and all elected representatives appealed to the farmers to maintain peace during the meeting, which could not last for more than few minutes, as people were very agitated. The minister assured that all 187 arrested farmers will be released within next 3-4 days.
Meanwhile, fear gripped Nargund town on Sunday following rumours regarding the death of an old woman, who was assaulted by the police in Alagawadi village. All shops and business establishments immediately downed shutters leading to undeclared bandh in the area.
The police later had to struggle hard to restore normalcy in the town. Border security force and Rapid Action Force personnel have been deployed in both Nargund and Navalgund towns.
