Two years after five farmers died in two separate incidents of police firing near Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, family members of the deceased have said that they are still awaiting justice. The death toll later rose to six as one of the farmers succumbed to injuries that he allegedly suffered in police custody.
What Followed After The Farmers’ Protest in Mandsaur?
On June 6, 2017, police opened fire on the farmers agitating for fair prices for their crops, which took lives of six people. It had put the then BJP government led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan under a lot of pressure. Back then, the BJP government had announced a compensation of Rs one crore and a job to one family member of each victim of the firing.
While the compensation and jobs were given, the most important demand that of prosecuting the police officials who had killed the men has not been met even after two years.
On June 6, which marked two years of the horrific incident, Chief Minister Kamal Nath paid tribute to the victims of the “barbaric firing”, and said that the government is committed to punishing the guilty and withdrawing cases against innocent farmers.
According to Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bala Bachchan, a one-man judicial commission that the BJP government appointed had blamed the protestors for attacking the police. If not satisfied, the current government might order another inquiry. Bachchan further said that he has signed a number of files related to the withdrawal of cases that were lodged in June 2017 against farmers.
The Congress has meanwhile been accused by the BJP of “milking” the Mandsaur case for their political gains. According to BJP leader Rajpal Singh Sisodiya, the violence was a result of the Congress provoking the farmers. He alleged that despite announcing loan waiver on the first anniversary of the Mandsaur case on June 6, 2018, the Congress has not waived loans.
Meanwhile, family members say that their main demand remains that the guilty are prosecuted.
“A case for murder has to be registered at any cost,” The Indian Express quoted Dinesh Patidar, a resident of Barkheda Panth, as saying. Patidar’s son Abhishek was killed in the protest.
He said that he was not sure about who killed his son as the security personnel were wearing helmets.
