Thanjavur: A group of sugarcane farmers in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, were detained by the police on Tuesday while attempting to stage a sit-in protest at the Collector’s Office. The farmers have been protesting for over 300 days against a private sugar mill at Thirumandankudi, demanding that the bank loans taken in their names by the previous management of the mill be settled before it is re-commissioned, reported The Hindu.
The farmers also allege that they have not been paid for the sugarcane they supplied to the mill and that they are now being threatened by the bank to repay the loans. They have demanded that the government take over the mill and ensure that they are paid their dues.
On Tuesday, the farmers attempted to stage a sit-in protest at the Collector’s Office to highlight their demands. However, they were prevented from doing so by the police, who detained about 40 of them. The farmers allege that many of their colleagues were also prevented from reaching the Collector’s Office.
The detention of the farmers has been condemned by various farmer organizations and political parties. They have demanded that the government release the farmers and address their grievances immediately.
