Mandya:  Police took farmers and BJP activists who were protesting in the town yesterday into custody.

The protest led by farmer leader and BJP aspirant from Srirangapatna K.S. Nanjundegowda near Visvesvaraya Circle on Bengaluru-Mysuru road was aimed against the officials for stopping water discharge to VC Canal from KRS reservoir.

In the context of low water level at KRS reservoir, the water discharge to the canal was stopped yesterday which has enraged the farmers to stage a flash stir.

They alleged that the government had assured to feed the canal till Apr. 23 but stopped the water discharge just four days after commencement.

The flash stir threw the vehicular movement on the road out of gear. When Police tried to prevent the stir under Poll  Code of Conduct, a verbal clash began between the Police and the farmers.

When the situation was heading towards a flash point, Police took over 80 protestors into their custody and whisked them away in a bus.