The police fired in self-defence in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandsaur where five farmers were killed last year, says the report of an investigation set up by the state government.
The police’s decision to fire at the protestors was “necessary and legal”, retired High Court judge AK Jain said in his report, which was presented before the state Cabinet, a source reported. The committee was set up days after the incident and was asked to present its findings within three months.
Protests by farmers demanding better prices for their crops and a loan waiver took a violent turn in June last year as the police opened fire on the activists. Not a single case was lodged against the police. On June 10, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan went on a “peace fast”, vowing to restore normalcy in the state. He also assured the farmers of a profitable price for their produce.
The Madhya Pradesh government had admitted that five farmers were killed due to police firing, after strongly denying it earlier. A sixth one died the next day from injuries allegedly due to police action. Those responsible would be punished, state Home Minister Bhupendra Singh said.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi visited the region earlier this month and promised to waive farm loans within 10 days if his party came to power in Assembly elections scheduled for later this year.
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