As the farmers' protests in Madhya Pradesh entered the fourth day with no sign of normalcy, the union home ministry received a detailed ground report from the state which demanded that additional central troops be airlifted to the troubled pockets. However, the MHA has reworked a fresh security plan for the state where the Central forces guarding vital installations will be put at the disposal of the state government .
According to the report sent by the Home Department of Madhya Pradesh, seven areas are worst affected which include Dhar, Jhabua, Neemuch, Ratlam, Devas, Shahjahpur and Sehore. The report said that on June 5, the farmers organised a bazaar bandh following which there were attempts of vandalism, and railway property was destroyed. It was at this juncture that Mandsaur became the central point for violence after the Railway gate and railway line were vandalised.
The report conceded that violence continued on June 6 and the police had to resort to tear gas and subsequently lathicharge to disperse the protesters. Seven farmers have been arrested
so far. The highways were blocked following which protesters burnt 25 trucks and two police vans.
When the stone pelting took place, the police started lathicharge again and around afternoon the police opened fire in which five persons were killed and seven injured, said the report. Section 144 CRPC has been imposed to disallow any gatherings and protests, it said.
While the state government wants additional central troops to be deployed, the MHA has decided to rope in the Central Industrial Security Force which has already been deployed in the state to secure the vital installations like industrial plants. These troops are being put at the disposal of the state government for law and order duties.