Fertiliser shortage: Violence spreads in K'taka

Hubli, June 10 (UNI) One person was killed and three others were injured when police opened fire to quell a mob of farmers, agitating against shortage of chemical fertilisers and seeds, in Haveri town, about 75 km from here, today.

The agitation, which saw farmers torching three buses and the vehicle of a DCP in Dharwad city yesterday, spread to four towns of Haveri and some places in Gadag districts.

After lathicharge and bursting of tear gas shells proved futile, police opened fire at the large group of people, including ryots who had come to the town to buy fertilisers and seeds.

The farmers had collected coupons during the last three days for buying fertilisers and had come to the town to collect it.

The injured were rushed to the Government hospital and then shifted to the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences here.

Inspector General of Police Auradkar is camping at Haveri and additional forces were deployed in the trouble torn area.

The situation was tense but under control now, official sources claimed, while speaking to UNI over telephone.

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