Mandsaur farmers’ protest: More than 50 arrested, over 100 detained for violence during farmers’ agitation in Madhya Pradesh

Mandsaur: More than 56 persons have been arrested and over 100 detained in connection with violence during the farmers agitation in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh, police said on Thursday.

The violence spread to Shajapur and Dhar on Thursday. Protesters pelted stones at cops on Shajapur Highway. They also roughed up sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Rajesh Yadav. Yadav sustained a fracture in his leg. The protesters then set three motorcycles and dumper on fire.

Meanwhile, the government removed collector Swantantra Kumar Singh and superintendent of police OP Tripathi from Mandsaur district on Thursday.

As many as six people were killed in police firing in Mandsaur district on Tuesday. After blaming anti-socials for the deaths, the state government on Thursday admitted that the protesters were killed due to police firing. Post-mortem reports of the deceased confirmed that the protesters died due to police firing.

Home minister Bhupendra Singh, who initially claimed police did not open firing, made a volte-face and said: “It was investigated and proved that the death of farmers happened because of police firing. Initially, the details provided to me were that police firing did not cause it. I later amended my statement after receiving the correct information.”