Police Detain Over 100 Protesting Sugarcane Farmers in Belagavi

UPDATE - follow-up to Sugarcane farmers stopped from marching towards Belagavi for 'Jail Bharo' protest: Police detained over 100 sugarcane farmers in Belagavi on November 5 during a 'Jail Bharo' protest. The detained individuals include frontline leaders Chunappa Pujeri, Shashikant Padasalagi Guruji, and Prem Chougala. Mr. Pujeri and Mr. Chougala were picked up at the Mukti math premises located on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway. Mr. Guruji and other participants were detained near Mudalagi while leading a padayatra. These detentions occurred after the district administration issued a prohibitory order under BNSS 163. The order banned protests along the National Highway, near Hindalaga jail, and in several other locations to block the agitation. Disagreements arose among the farming community regarding a proposed price of 3,600 rupees per tonne offered by sugar factories. This rate was decided during a late-night meeting on November 3 involving factory representatives and farmers, chaired by PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi. Although most participating leaders agreed to this rate, they demanded a 1,000 rupees per tonne compensation from the government of Karnataka as a State Advised Price. When leaders announced this outcome, waiting farmers objected, arguing the settlement was too low. Consequently, members from Kittur, Gokak, and Khanapur visited factories on November 4 to push for harvest and transport operations.

Context

This agitation follows earlier protests where the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene blocked the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway and held discussions with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Such disputes over cane pricing and state advisory rates frequently spark tensions between growers and factory owners in the region.