Shivraj Singh Chouhan is on a visit to the families of 6 farmers who died in Mansaur on June 6.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is visiting the families of farmers who were killed in the June 6 violence in Mandsaur today. He has already visited the villages of Barwan Phunta, Lodh, Naya Kheda, Pipliya Mandi -- the market where shops were burnt -- and is expected next at the Barkheda Panth village. Five of the farmers had died in police firing. One who had been injured in the police lathicharge had died later in the hospital. The violence had increased the pitch of the farmer protests.
Here are the 10 latest developments in this story:
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is expected to visit the house of every farmer who had died during Mandsaur protests. There is one more village on his list, Takrawad.
His first stop during the day-long journey was at the house of Ghanshyam Dhakad in Barwan Phunta village. Mr Dhakkad had been injured during the lathicharge by the police and had died later in hospital.
The Chief Minister's office tweeted that the family had been sent a compensation of Rs 1 crore. The Chief Minister has also assured them that the state will bear the costs of the education of his two children.
The state government released Rs 6 crore -- the compensation promised to the six farmers' families, last evening.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144, which had been put in place in Mandsaur since June 6, was lifted this morning ahead of the Chief Minister's visit.
Since June 6, the police had detained a number of leaders from visiting Mandsaur. Yesterday, senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia was detained near Mandsaur. Hardik Patel, the activist leading the agitation of Patidars for reservation in government jobs and education, was arrested in Neemuch near Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh border.
Last week, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was arrested when he tried to meet the families of the deceased farmers.
As the protests spread following the violence in Mandsaur, Chief Minister Chouhan had held a 28-hour fast for "peace" over the weekend. He ended the fast on Sunday, saying the families of the deceased farmers had requested him to do so.
The police have filed 46 cases over the firing, but none of these are against any police officer.The police maintain their officers had opened fire in self-defence. The state has ordered an investigation into the firing by retired High Court judge JK Jain.
Madhya Pradesh has been witnessing rallies and demonstrations since last month by farmers, who are demanding better prices for their crops and a waiver of loans. Yesterday, three farmers had committed suicide, their families said they had been depressed due to mounting debts.
