Day 57: Protesting TN farmers eat human excreta

On the 57th day of their protest at Jantar Mantar, as many as 48 Tamil Nadu farmers consumed human excreta to attract the attention of the authorities towards their woes. The farmers have been demanding drought relief funds, waiver of agricultural loans, and a better minimum support price from the Centre.

Earlier as well, the protesting farmers have taken several desperate measures in protest, including shaving off half of their moustaches, tonsuring their heads, putting dead snakes and rats in their mouths, and biting skulls of "dead farmers". Now, they have warned that they will organise a nude protest on the 100th day.

P Ayyakannu, the Tamil Nadu Chief of the Desiya Thenidhiya Nathigal Inaippu Vivasayigal Sangam (a farmers' collective), said: "According to Hindutva, people belonging to higher castes do not meet farmers. I suppose this is the reason why our Prime Minister is not paying any attention to our protest and demands. Our country, which is a democracy, is beginning to become a dictatorship."

Meanwhile, the protesters have developed a small temporary farm at the protest site, surrounded by skulls of family members and friends on the four sides.