Sugarcane farmers stopped from marching towards Belagavi for ‘Jail Bharo’ protest

On November 5, more than 100 sugarcane farmers were apprehended during the 'Jail Bharo' protest in Belagavi. The detainees consist of prominent activists Chunappa Pujeri, Shashikant Padasalagi Guruji, and Prem Chougala. The first two were apprehended in the Mukti math area on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway, while Guruji and others were seized near Mudalagi where they were leading the march.

This arrest spree came after the district administration issued a prohibitory order under BNSS 163, prohibiting demonstrations along the National Highway, Hindalaga jail, and certain other locales. The order was a direct response to the 'Jail Bharo' (fill prisons) agitation call issued by the farmers' leaders. Tensions arose within the farming community over the acceptance of the ₹3,600 per tonne offer from sugar factories for cane suppliers.

This rate was agreed upon during a late-night meeting on November 3 involving farmers and factory owners, chaired by PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, who owns a sugar factory. While most leaders endorsed the price, they insisted that the Karnataka government must compensate them with ₹1,000 per tonne as the State Advised Price. However, some farmers who were present outside the meeting room expressed outrage, claiming their leaders had settled for a lesser sum.

Faction members from Kittur, Gokak, and Khanapur ventured to factories on November 4, urging them to commence harvest and transportation activities. The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene leaders had previously blocked the Pune Bengaluru-National Highway on October 11 and embarked on a march to Hubballi three days later.

Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar met with these leaders in Kittur on October 17 and convened two sessions of farmers and factory owners at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha on October 26, urging a resolution within two days. However, once this deadline expired, the farmers commenced a march from Gurlapur to Belagavi. Despite two previous meetings failing to resolve the impasse, they declared a 'jail bharo' protest.