Bagalkote/Bidar, 14 Nov

The police on Friday said the fire in sugarcane-laden vehicles in this district was premeditated, as the miscreants had brought petrol and other inflammable substances to carry out the arson.

According to Additional Director General of Police R Hitendra, the miscreants had sneaked into the farmers’ protest and carried out arson.

The ADGP visited the fire accident spot near a sugar factory at Samirwadi in the district, where the vehicles were set on fire.

Later, he told reporters that a case had been registered against the unknown miscreants.

“Sugarcane vehicles were set on fire. We have registered a case. At the preliminary level, it has been found that they had brought petrol and all. It is found that in the name of farmers, miscreants have done this. Whoever it is, we will take strict action,” the officer said.

The ADGP said that an investigation has started, and police will identify those behind this and take action against them.

Following arson and violence on Thursday evening, prohibitory orders were clamped in Mudhol, Jamkhandi, Rabakavi, and Banahatti Taluks of Bagalkote district.

According to police sources, more than 30 tractor trolleys, four bikes, and six tractor engines were damaged in the fire incident.

The situation is under control, with a heavy deployment of police force in the area.

District in-charge Minister RB Thimmapur visited the spot along with senior officers of the district.

Meanwhile, farmers staged a protest in Vijayapura district, demanding an appropriate price for sugarcane.

The protesters blocked the National Highway-52 near Yargal KD village in Sindagi Taluk of Vijayapura district. They set tyres on fire on the highway.

Sugarcane growers in North Karnataka have been demanding at least Rs 3,500 per tonne of sugarcane. The state government has fixed Rs 3,300 per tonne.

Bidar DC fixes sugarcane rate at ₹2.9K/tonne  

Bidar Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Sharma on Thursday fixed the sugarcane procurement price at Rs 2,900 per tonne after a meeting with farmer leaders and sugar mill representatives. She said the rate aims to balance farmer interests and factory viability, and is Rs 250 higher than last year’s Rs 2,650.

Officials discussed an earlier proposal to raise the rate to Rs 2,850 with contributions from the State and factories, but growers had staged a large protest in Humanabad demanding Rs 3,100 per tonne, citing widespread crop loss due to heavy rain.

Sharma, who visited the protest site on Wednesday, convened the meeting to finalise the price. She said recovery rates in Bidar and Haveri stand at 9.6, and farmers in Haveri have accepted Rs 2,900. She assured strict monitoring to ensure factories pay the notified rate.

Farmer leaders, however, reiterated their demand for Rs 3,100 and said their protest would continue. Officials and sugar mill MDs attended the meeting.