Rahul Gandhi taken into custody on way to Madhya Pradesh
Congress leader was going to meet families of five farmers who were killed in police clash in Mandsaur
June 08, 2017
MANDSAUR: Indian politician Rahul Gandhi was detained on Thursday at the Neemuch border while he was travelling to violence-hit Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, to meet the families of labourers killed in police firing during their protest.
The Congress vice-president began his journey by flying to Rajasthan’s Udaipur and then driving towards Mandsaur. However, his vehicle was stopped near the border after which the leader reportedly jumped on a motorcycle and was stopped again after three kilometres.
After this, Gandhi started walking briskly around the check post of Special Protection Group. He tried to break through the police barricades but was stopped.
After the incident, Gandhi tweeted that “Raj [and] MP governments are doing their best to prevent me from entering MP and meeting the families of the farmers killed in Mandsaur.”
In another tweet, he remarked “What law of the land says that it is illegal to stand in solidarity with farmers who were killed simply for demanding what is their right?”
The police said that Gandhi and other Congres leaders would not be allowed to enter Mandsaur, which is currently under the curfew. Presently, about 700 policemen have been deployed at the Neemuch border, according to Indian media.
Gandhi had announced a day before that he will be travelling to Mandsaur.
Violent protests
Since the last week, a huge group of farmers and agricultural labourers have been protesting in Mandsaur, demanding higher prices for their crops and loan waivers.
On Tuesday, the agitation intensified as protesters threw stones and vandalised vehicles after police allegedly opened fire on them.
Later, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bhupendra Singh confirmed that five farmers have been killed in the clashes with the police, which he had vehemently denied before.
