The Hindu : Farmers stage `chakka jam' in Gulbarga

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 18, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Farmers stage `chakka jam' in Gulbarga

By Our Special Correspondent

GULBARGA FEB. 17 . Hundreds of farmers on Monday courted arrest after unsuccessfully trying to break the police cordon in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office complex in Gulbarga city to stage a "chakka jam" agitation demanding immediate cessation of crop loan recovery proceedings by the banks and adequate compensation to the family of a farmer who committed suicide at Khanadal village in Gulbarga taluk on February 10.

The farmers with their bullock carts with the family members of Sharanappa Natikar, who committed suicide "unable to bear the humiliation" of attachment of his property by the Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank (PCARDB), were stopped by the police at the main gate of the office compound.

The former minister, S.K. Kanta, the former Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council, B.R. Patil, the President of the Karnataka Pranta Raita Sangha, Maruti Manpade, the President of the District Raita Horata Samiti, Kedarlingaiah Hiremath, and the Vice-President of the Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha (Puttanaiah), Basavaraj Tambakki, who led the farmers, attempted to break the police barricade and march towards the DC's office.

Police arrested many leaders who tried to climb up the barricade. Despite provocation by the mob, which was turning unruly with every passing minute, the police patiently ensured that all the protesting farmers were arrested and the road leading to the Deputy Commissioner's office was cleared of all the obstructions.

Family members of Natikar, including his mother, grandmother, two brothers, and a sister, and his relatives, were seen crying in front of the office compound. Two women who tried to go near the Deputy Commissioner's office were taken into custody by women police constables.

Even as the farmers tried to force their way into the office compound by breaking the barricade and the police pushed them backwards, some women and children were caught in the melee and at least two women fainted. They were given first aid before being arrested formally.

It is not clearly known whether the District Raita Horata Samiti and the KRRS, which announced indefinite "chakka jam" from Monday, will continue their agitation tomorrow also.

The leaders of the Horata Samiti, KRRS, and Mr. Kanta and Mr. Patil demanded that the Government pay Rs. five lakh compensation to the family of Natikar. They said criminal cases should be filed against the officials of the PCARDB, who attached the property of Natikar, and said banks should stop loan recovery. Interest on crop loans should be waived this year, they added.

They demanded that rural areas in the State be provided 24-hour uninterrupted power supply, and said the moves to install meters to irrigation pumpsets should be given up.

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