Belagavi: Protests continue, Athani farmer attempts immolation

BELAGAVI: A farmer doused himself in diesel and attempted immolation at Athani during protests against police action against farmers in Bengaluru on Thursday even as traffic was disrupted in several parts of this border on Saturday.

The farmer, Basappa Hokandi, emptied a can of diesel on himself, but was prevented from putting a match stick to body by policemen. The can of diesel was meant to douse and set on fire an effigy of CM Siddaramaiah.

Another gathering of farmers at Chennamma Circle in Belagavi brought traffic to a grinding halt for several hours as they staged a dharna today. They set fire to tyres in protest against lathi-charge on farmers and accused the government of perpetrating atrocities on farmers.

“Leaders of political parties are resorting to politics while taking up issues concerning farmers but never attempted to resolve their problems. We will intensify our protests to teach these leaders a lesson soon if the situation continues,” said farmers’ leader Mallikarjun Jakati.

Meanwhile, former Union minister Babagouda Patil told media persons at Kittur that the state government would not survive longer it if continued to perpetrate atrocities on farmers. If farmers who came to Bengaluru demanding adequate supply of water were being brutally assaulted by policemen, then what would be the fate of the common man, he asked.

Several important roads were blocked by protesters in Raibag, Ramdurg, Gokak, Khanapur, Kittur, Ghataprabha and many other parts of Belagavi district during the day. Leaders belonging to various farmers’ organisations joined the chorus for an apology by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.