Farmers representing various outfits gathered outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mysuru on Wednesday to protest against the resumption of safaris and illegal resorts in forest areas. | Photo credit: MA Sriram
Farming outfits protesting against the resumption of safaris in the forests have said that their agitation will continue indefinitely as officials have failed to provide clear assurance of their demands.
The farmers, who reached the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mysuru on Wednesday in a motorcycle rally from Gun House circle and staged a protest, held talks with senior officials of the district administration including Regional Commissioner Nitesh Patil and Deputy Commissioner Lakshmikant Reddy.
State Farmers Union Federation President Kurubur Shanthakumar, along with farmer leader Honnur Prakash and representatives of various organizations such as the Farmers Collective Management Union, Save Kabini Committee demanded an immediate stop to safaris in forest areas and action against illegal resorts operating in the jungle.
Referring to the forest department’s claim that the population of wild animals such as elephants, tigers and leopards has increased and these animals have been venturing into human settlements, destroying crops and attacking people on the fringes as their movement in the forest is difficult, Mr. Shanthakumar said that no cases of tigers attacking farmers have been reported during the safari during the last few months.
Though officials including Mr. Patil, Mr. Reddy and Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Paramesh heard them at the deputy commissioner’s office, they were unable to answer several questions raised by the farmers, Mr. Shanthakumar said.
In a statement here, Mr. Shanthakumar claimed that the Deputy Commissioner said that the report had found six resorts in Kabini and Nagarahole areas to be illegal and that immediate action would be taken. “He also said that a message will be sent to the government to suspend safari activities,” Shanthakumar said.
But the farmers did not accept it and continued their indefinite protest.
“A finance division officer has assured that a meeting will be convened in two to three days with the participation of deputy commissioners of Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts, forest department officials of both the districts and farmers’ leaders to discuss the safari issue. As the officials did not give a clear assurance, the farmers said that the indefinite agitation will continue,” Mr. Shanthakumar said here.
Published – 25 Feb 2026 21:13 IST
