Fearing that farmers in Madhya Pradesh would join hands with the Congress and participate in the agitation against the government, particularly on June 1 and afterwards, the farmers throughout the State are being forced to sign bonds that they would not participate in any agitation against the government.
The farmers’ organizations have given a call for agitation from June 1, while Congress president Rahul Gandhi is also visiting Mandsaur.
Both the programmes would be held at Mandsaud, where innocent farmers were gunned down last year, during farmers’ agitation.
Apparently unnerved ahead of proposed farmers’ stir that starts on June 1, the district administration in Mandsaur, the epicenter of last year’s agitation, has served notices to around 1200 farmers in Mandsaur district have been served notices to fill bonds (undertaking) that they would be maintaining peace during the stir.
Incidentally, five farmers were killed in police firing in Mandsaur during a protest on June 6 last year while another injured in police cane-charge had succumbed to injuries later.
This time round the farmers’ bodies have announced ‘Gaon Bandh’ in which the farmers would cease to visit cities and towns for 10 days starting from June 1.
But the administration is taking no chances and has braced up to meet any eventuality.
To add to administration’s woes, Congress president Rahul Gandhi is slated to address a public rally on June 6 to commemorate the first anniversary of Mandsaur police firing.
As part of the efforts to keep a tab on things, the administration has collected police station wise detail of the elements that could create trouble or could aid those who are planning to disrupt law and order.
On the basis of these inputs, the administration has served notices to around 1200 such ‘suspects’.
Those who have received the notices have been told to report to their local police stations.
If the responses they offer are found unsatisfactory, they will be asked to sign a bond of Rs 25,000 under Section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) - an undertaking to ensure peace. Violation, if any, could lead to the money being forfeited and a possible jail term.