Sugarcane farmers in K'taka stage dharna for higher MSP

Mandya, Dec 29 (UNI) Vehicular traffic on the busy Bangalore-Mysore state highway was affected for nearly three hours following a protest by sugarcane growers, demanding higher support price their produce.

Led by a group of farmers' organisations, the peasants staged a dharna at Banakanhalli, throwing traffic out of gear.

Thousands of vehicles were stranded on either side of the four-lane highway.

Following the protest, KSRTC suspended its operation from Mysore, while vehicles from Bangalore were diverted towards Malavalli from Maddur town. Similarly, vehicles from Mysore were diverted through Malavalli-Kanakapura route. Normalcy was restored only by noon, officials said.

More then 150 agitating farmers, who were taken into custody by the police were later released.

Mandya Additional Superintendent of Police Krishna Raju and other top officials were camping at the spot.

UNI