Farmers’ deaths during agitation: PIL seeks probe by SIT

Indore: The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday sought response from senior state government officials to a petition seeking an SIT probe into the death of six farmers in police action in Mandsaur district last month.

A division bench of Justices P K Jaiswal and Rajiv

Kumar Dubey issued notices to the secretary, home department, superintendent of police, Mandsaur, and some other officers.

The PIL has been filed by activists Kamlesh Patidar and Shankerlal Patidar.

Six farmers were killed in police firing in Mandsaur district during a peasants’ agitation for better prices and loan waiver. Another man had died allegedly after he was beaten up by police.

Ajay Bagadia, the petitioners’ lawyer, said they were demanding that the police officers responsible for  these deaths should be booked, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by a superintendent of police-level officer, should probe the matter.