Several hundred farmers blocked the Latur-Ambejogai highway in Renapur tehsil in Latur on Monday afternoon protesting against the alleged delay in distribution of drought subsidies and other relief measures, PTI reported. The blockade lasted for two hours.
Renapur tehsil has been declared drought affected. However, eligible people are yet to receive subsidies and other aid, although all of them have filled in the Know Your Customer (KYC) details, Gajan Bolange of the Shetkari Sanghatana, which organized the protest, told reporters.
“More than 70 per cent of the eligible farmers have not received drought subsidies or other forms of relief. We want clarification from the tehsildar in this regard. The authorities should ask the bank management why this money has not been deposited in our accounts. We are also seeking a crop insurance subsidy for 50 hectares to help farmers,” he said.
The farmers closed the gate of the Renapur tehsil office as part of a symbolic protest, while a sit-in was held for two hours at Pimpalphata on the Latur-Ambejogai highway, Bolange said.
The group’s contact chief Dattaji Shingde said there will be a huge uproar in the region if farmers do not receive help by June 20, adding that a memorandum of demands has been submitted to nayab tehsildar Ugle.
Curfew in Manipur’s Jiribam following protests over man’s murder
Following protests over the death of a 59-year-old man by suspected militants, the Manipur government declared an indefinite curfew in Jiribam district, an official said on Friday. Following the recovery of Soibam Saratkumar Singh’s body, some residents set fire to some abandoned buildings, leading to the lifting of prohibitory orders on Thursday night.
Following the man’s death, residents staged protests on Friday morning, which kept the situation tense but under control. “There is a possibility of widespread disturbance of public peace and tranquility or riots or scuffles due to illegal activities of anti-social elements,” the official said, citing orders issued by the Jiribam District Magistrate’s Office.
The local administration also prohibited “gatherings of five or more people that may be illegal, the carrying of firearms, sticks… and the movement of any person outside their respective residences within the fiscal jurisdiction of the district.” Singh disappeared Thursday morning after leaving for his farm, and a police officer reported that his body was later discovered with cuts from a sharp object.
In front of the Jiribam police station, locals had staged a protest demanding the return of legally owned firearms confiscated during the electoral process. The district administration appealed to the population to remain calm.
To facilitate quick communication between district security forces, a combined control center has also been set up with representatives of Assam Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force, Manipur Police and Indian Reserve Battalion. With a mixed ethnic population that includes Muslims, Kukis, Nagas, Meiteis and non-Manipuris, Jiribam has not been affected by the ethnic conflict raging in Manipur since May last year. More than 200 people have died and many more have been left homeless as a result of ethnic violence between the Meiteis, who live in the Imphal Valley, and the Kukis, who live in the highlands.