Sugarcane growers have stopped marching towards Belagavi in ​​’Jail Bharo’ protest.

On November 5, 2026, the police arrested sugarcane farmers who were participating in a ‘jail bharo’ protest at Mukti Math in Belagavi. Photo credit: BADIGER PK

Police arrested over 100 sugarcane farmers who participated in the ‘Bharo Jail’ protest in Belagavi on November 5. The arrested farmers include prominent leaders Chunappa Pujeri, Shashikant Padasalagi Guruji and Prem Chougala.

Mr. Pujeri and Mr. Chougala were detained at the Mukti Math premises on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway, while Mr. Guruji and others were detained near Mudalagi where they were leading a padayatra (march).

Detention is governed by the ban issued under BNSS 163 by the district administration. The order banned all protests along the National Highway, Hindalaga Jail and some other areas. This was in response to the ‘Jail Bharo’ (fill the jails) agitation call by the leaders.

Differences emerged among farmers over the acceptance of the sugar mills’ offer of ₹3,600 per tonne to cane suppliers. This price was reached during a night meeting on November 3 between farmers and representatives of factory owners, presided over by PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, who owns the sugar factory.

While most of the leaders who attended the meeting agreed to the price, they gave a condition that the Karnataka government must compensate them by offering ₹1,000 per tonne as the state notified price. But when the leaders came to announce the decision to the media, some farmers waiting outside protested, saying their leaders had settled for less. Members of some factions in Kittur, Gokaku and Khanapur visited the factories on November 4 and asked them to start harvesting and transportation.

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene leaders blocked the Pune Bengaluru-National Highway on 11 October. Three days later they started the padayatra to Hubballi. Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar met them in Kittur on 17 October. He convened two meetings of farmers and factory owners at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha on October 26. He asked both sides to come to an agreement within two days. But after this deadline, the farmers started padayatra from Gurlapur to Belagavi. After two meetings failed to break the deadlock, they announced a “jail bharo” protest.

Published – 05 Nov 2026 11:53 IST