Mandsaur: 5 killed, 4 injured in firing during farmers’ protest; MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan calls emergency meeting

Rejecting claims that police launched offensive measures during farmers’ protest in Mandsaur of Madhya Pradesh, state home minister Bhupendra Singh said that there was no firing by police and he has ordered a probe into the matter.

He also clarified, saying that neither curfew has been imposed nor internet services have been stopped in the region.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan ordered judicial enquiry into the firing incident and called an emergency meeting of ministers regarding the matter. 

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan orders judicial enquiry into the firing incident during farmers' protest in Mandsaur pic.twitter.com/r49z2XtjeK

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 6, 2017

Five people were killed and 4 injured in a firing during farmers’ protest in the incident. Curfew has been imposed in sensitive areas. 

Madhya Pradesh: 2 farmers dead, 4 injured in firing that took place in Mandsaur during farmers' protest. pic.twitter.com/4HNPtksUBi

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 6, 2017

The protest, called for the revision of procurement prices of fruits and vegetables, took a violent turn on Monday night after the protestors set a retail garments shop on fire in Mandsaur, followed by loot in local shops. The farmers later also damaged rail tracks.

Police dwara koi firing nahi hui. Firing ki jaanch ke aadesh diye hain. Sarkar dwara na internet band kiya hai,na koi curfew laga hai: MP HM pic.twitter.com/xp8UxPoKwZ

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 6, 2017

Reacting to the protests, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi slammed Centre saying that the NDA government is at war with the farmers in the country.   

Government is at war with the farmers of our country: Congress vice President Rahul Gandhi on farmers' protest and firing in Mandsaur pic.twitter.com/lgwqsb00pL

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 6, 2017

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said his government is taking all necessary steps to address the issues of agitating farmers.

“This government is farmers’ government. All necessary steps have been initiated to address farmers’ concerns,” Chouhan said at a hurriedly-convened press conference in Bhopal on Monday.

A price stabilisation fund of Rs 1,000 crore would be set up to purchase the farm produce at the minimum support price (MSP), he said.

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“People who are indulging in violence are anti-social elements and not farmers. They are trying to defame the farmers’ protest,” he added.

He has assured the farmers that government would buy onion at the MSP of Rs 8 per kg, he said, adding that “we have already started buying onion in Indore, Ujjain and Mandsaur districts”. Procurement will continue till June 30, he said.