A week after farmers started their agitation across Maharashtra, vegetable prices started normalising as supplies to wholesale markets improved on Wednesday amid heavy police security. But farmers continued their protest.
The protesters scuffled with the police in Sangli district as they attempted to disrupt a vegetable market in the afternoon. The protesters accused the police of using force to transport eight activists belonging to the Kisan Sabha and the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana. The police said they were moved from Sangli to another place to prevent incitement to violence.
The police have prohibited assembly of people in public places under Section 144 of the Cr.PC till June 19 in Nashik district, where the suicides of two farmers on Monday and Tuesday added fuel to the agitation. The police in Pune district have been asked to act against burning of effigies. Yet, effigies were burnt in parts of Latur district in Marathwada. Farmers staged a demonstration against the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government near the home of BJP leader and district guardian minister Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar. The police arrested 17 protesters.
Demonstrations were more intense in Ahmednagar district where markets were shut in Sangamner. The cow market was suspended in Rahata.
Vegetable supplies improved at the agricultural produce market committees in Mumbai, Kolhapur and Pune, as the produce arrived from other States.
