Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday (November 14, 2025) that the incident of arson of tractor-trolleys laden with sugarcane in this district will be investigated so that those responsible can be traced. The incident occurred on Thursday (November 13, 2025) evening during a protest by farmers demanding a price of Rs 3,500 per tonne for their produce.
Tension prevailed in parts of Bagalkot after miscreants allegedly set on fire several tractor-trolleys laden with sugarcane heading towards a factory in Rabkavi Banhatti taluk. Siddaramaiah said, ‘Almost all the farmers accepted the sugarcane purchase price of Rs 3,300 per tonne but only the farmers of Mudhol do not agree with it and discussions are being held with them.’
Talking to journalists here, he said that the government will thoroughly investigate this incident. He said, ‘The farmers have said that they did not set the fire. The matter will be investigated and the culprits will be punished. When asked whether the protests were carried out due to political instigation, the Chief Minister said, ‘It must have been instigated. BJP has no other work and their job is to instigate people.
The Chief Minister urged the farmers to accept the sugarcane purchase price of Rs 3,300 per tonne and withdraw their protest. After the incident, on Thursday, Bagalkot Deputy Commissioner imposed prohibitory orders in Jamkhandi, Mudhol and Rabkavi-Banhatti taluks by invoking Section 163 of the Indian Civil Security Code (BNSS), 2023. Under this order, protests, strikes and public meetings have been banned from 8 pm on 13 November to 8 am on 16 November.
Officials said that sugarcane farmers have been protesting by blocking roads across the district since November 7 regarding price determination and other demands. They had also surrounded the Godavari (Samirwadi) sugar factory under Mahalingpura police station area on 13 November.