The last rites of farmer Vitthal Bhimappa Arabhavi, 57, who committed suicide at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belgaum on Wednesday, were performed in his village Kankanwadi on Thursday, amidst raising of anti-government slogans by fellow farmers.
Minister Satish Jarkiholi paid respects to the departed farmer, but there was visible unhappiness among the farmers at the absence of chief minister Siddaramaiah at the funeral.
Arabhavi died after consuming poison on Wednesday in protest against the government ignoring sugarcane growers who were agitating in front of Suvarna Soudha here from November 25, the day the legislature began its winter here.
Police took Arabhavi’s body to his village, Kankanwadi, on Wednesday night, promising protesters at the Soudha that it would be brought back to the spot of the protest. They took away the body without informing even the sons of the farmer sons, as also former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and farmers’ leader Kodihalli Chandrashekhar who were with the protesters, demonstrating their solidarity.
Angry at the police action, a huge group of protesters rushed to the village in the morning and attended the last rites of Arabhavi. Thousands of farmers expressed their anger by burning tyres on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. They filed past Arabhavi’s body and paid their respects. Commercial establishments were closed on account of death of farmer. Residents of the village, including women and children Slogans such as “Vitthal Bhai amar rahe”.
Police managed to persuade a group of farmer-leaders, who were demanding for arrival of chief minister, not to make an issue of Siddaramaiah’s absence at the funeral, pointing out that the assembly was in session.
Residents of Kankanwadi farmers offered drinking water, tea, breakfast in the morning to farmers pouring into the village for the funeral.
District administration has decided to deploy police personnel in the village for one more day to avoid possible untoward incidents in the village.
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