Police on Sunday night arrested 14 members of the farmers’ body Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS) following their May 12 gherao of the district Collectors’ offices.
While nine farmers were arrested from Jagatsinghpur, five were arrested from Jajpur for locking down the offices of the respective Collectors.
Reacting to the development, NKS State coordinator Akshay Kumar alleged that the State Government is conspiring against the farmers.
“Our agitation is nothing new. We have been peacefully demonstrating across the State since past five years seeking price, prestige and pension for the farmers. The police crackdown is intended at scaring the farmers and breaking their unity. This is a conspiracy of the Government,” said Akshay Kumar.
“We are not going to back down because of the arrests. We will continue to press for a 4-per cent allocation of the State Budget for the benefit of the farmers. Further, the Government has to accept the farmers’ suicide cases and provide Rs 10-lakh compensation to their families,” he added.
It may be noted that the farmers have long been demanding payment of compensation
to the families of the farmers who have committed suicide, a provision of Rs 5,000-pension for farmers, better paddy procurement facilities, a higher minimum support price, better social recognition and drought compensation, among others.