Violent incidents due to shortage of fertiliser spread in K'taka

Hubli, June 10 (UNI) Violent incident in the wake of farmers protesting against shortage in supply of chemical fertilisers and sowing seeds spread to neighbouring district of Haveri.

Tension prevailed in four towns of that districts while agitating mob pelted stones and looted fertilisers from dealer's outlets in Haveri and Gadag districts.

Violence hit Dharwad city, which saw rampaging group of farmers burning three buses and the vehicle of the DCP and damaging over 20 other RTC buses yesterday remained peaceful today.

Prohibitory orders had been clamped in the disturbed areas.

Police resorted to lathi bursting of tear gas shells to disburse rampaging farmers at Bankapur and Motebennur towns in Haveri district and resorted to lathicharge to quell mobs of farmers at Shiggaon and Haveri towns.

According to reports reaching here, farmers who were staging rasta roko at several places in these towns gathered at a central place by afternoon and started pelting stones at Bankapur and Motebennur towns while they went on looting spree fertilisers shops at Shiggaon.

Senior police officials along with additional forces reached these towns and brought the situation under control, though tension continued to prevail.

(Ed: Pl pick up suitably from BG 5) UNI MNP RS GM1519