Ballari: Five of the 149 farmers lodged in Ballari central prison in connection with the Mahadayi agitation, were hospitalized on Thursday.
The five who include two farmer leaders, Mr Lokanath G Hebasur and Mr Subhashchandra Gouda B Patil, had sustained severe injuries in the alleged police atrocities during the agitation against the interim order of Mahadayi water tribunal in Dharwad district last week. They have been sent to Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) Hospital for treatment.
The authorities said prison doctors are treating farmers who complained of minor injuries and other health problems. Those who required intensive medical care have been sent to VIMS hospital. According to the farmers who were admitted to hospital, they were beaten black and blue by the police at the police station after they were taken into custody.
“We were not able to drink and eat for the past two days and are feeling feverish owing to the severe pain caused by police atrocities”, they said adding that many of them had suffered fractures on their hands and legs during the caning and lathicharge. Of the 220 farmers arrested from Navalagund and Naragund, the epicentre of the Mahadayi protest, 149 are lodged in Ballari prison and the rest in Chitradurga prison.
On Thursday, many political leaders and seers of various maths lined up before the prison to meet the farmers and offer them food and fruits. Sri Rama Sene leader Pramod Mutalik too visited the farmers and demanded that they be released as early as possible.
