President of the Kunigal taluk unit of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) was assaulted allegedly by Tumakuru Zilla Panchayat member Ravi, son of Kunigal MLA, during a meeting on the supply of water from Markonahalli dam, at Amruthur in the taluk on Thursday.
The meeting was chaired by JD(S) MLA for Kunigal D. Nagarajaiah and a large number of farmers were present.
Kunigal taluk KRRS president Anand Patel said he was invited to the meeting by Hemavati canal division officials. As part of discussions between farmers and officials, executive engineer of the Hemavati left bank canal Varadaiah said water cannot be supplied for paddy crops but only for ragi crops and this was based on the information provided by officials of the Agriculture Department in 1989.
When Mr. Patel raised objections to the decision by saying that it was based on old information, Dr. Ravi hit him on the head.
A few of farmers who tried to come to the rescue of their leader were pushed around by JD(S) supporters.
When the police tried to send them out of the meeting venue, the farmers boycotted the meeting. They then registered a complaint against Dr. Ravi with Amruthur police.
Mr. Patel told The Hindu , “It was a pre-planned attack.”
Tumakuru district president of the KRRS B.S. Devaraj has condemned the attack on the KRRS leader and farmers.
