Birajakhetra: In a mass demonstration, hundreds of farmers of the newly-formed ‘Krushak Sangha’ group gheraoed Jajpur police station demanding the immediate release of five farmers of the group Monday. The arrested farmers were identified as Ashok Mohanty, Ashok Behera, Laxmidhar Sahu, Purusottam Biswal and Nagesh Jena.
According to the case diary, farmers of the group had earlier May 12, 2016 locked the district collectorate office for hours demanding a security pension of Rs 5,000 every month to all farmers. They kept the office locked and put their demands but no steps were taken in the regard yet.
Police had arrested over 209 farmers in this connection and had produced them in court. However, they were later released after submitting an undertaking.
Later, the arrest of five farmers of the same group late Sunday night triggered tension in the town, sources said. Police conducted a raid and picked up five farmers and produced them in court late in the night, sources said. The news of the arrest spread anger amidst the group members who flocked to the police station alleging police atrocities and demanded the immediate release of the five arrested farmers.
They alleged the police arrested the five farmers under political pressure. Leaders of the group warned of a mass demonstration if the five were not released soon. “We will stage demonstrations throughout the state,” they warned. They submitted a written petition in favour of Jajpur police superintendent.
They demanded the police department to declare the farmers not guilty through a written petition. They also demanded the immediate arrest of political leaders who they alleged were pressuring the police to arrest innocent farmers. The demonstrations continued till the time of filing the report. PNN
