MLA Raju Shetty, supporters injured in police cane-charge

Kolhapur, Sep 29 (UNI) Altogether thirty five people, including Swabhimani Shetakari Sanghatana MLA Raju Shetty and his supporters and some policemen, were injured in a clash between the SSS activists and police at Shirol tehsil of this district today.

The SSS activists, all of them sugarcane farmers, had assembled at the Datta Cooperative Sugar Factory premises at Shirol to attend the sugar mill's annual general body meeting and to press their demand for the release of the second instalment of Rs 380 per tonne of cane as per the agreement signed on November 11 last year.

Some trouble at the spot led to police cane-charge on the activists. They pelted stones at the police personnel and in the resultant melee, Mr Shetty and his supporters were injured.

Subsequently, the activists grew more violent forcing the police to burst teargas shells to disperse the mob. Few policemen were also wounded in the stone-pelting.

The situation was described as tense but under control now.

The police have taken 40 people into custody.

UNI