Chamarajanagar:  Two farmers, who were coming from their agricultural fields were electrocuted after they came in contact with a sagging power line on the road leading to their agri fields. The incident took place on Wednesday night on the road between Ayyanapura and Malledevanahalli in the taluk.

The deceased have been identified as Nagendra (48) and Mallesh (45), residents of Ayyanapura village.

On Wednesday at about 10 pm, Nagendra and Mallesh had been to their field on their bike. After completing their works, they  were returning to the village, when they accidentally came in contact with the power line which was sagging on the roadside. The power line got tangled to Nagendra’s  neck and Mallesh, who was riding pillion, was also electrocuted and both died on the spot.

The incident came to light when those residing in the nearby jaggery manufacturing unit (aalemane) saw the bodies the next day morning.

Farmers stage protest

Holding CESC officials responsible for the farmers’ death due to their negligence, members of Raitha Sangha, Hasiru Sene, Sugarcane Growers’ Association and villages stage a protest demanding Rs. 50 lakh compensation each to the two deceased families and jobs to one member of both the deceased farmers. They refused to budge from the spot till the demands were met.

Superintendent of Police (SP) B.T. Kavitha, Assistant Commissioner Mahesh and CESC Superintending Engineer Pratheep Kumar, who arrived at the protest spot, tried to convince the protesting farmers and villagers but in vain. The farmers demanded the Deputy Commissioner (DC) come to the spot.

Later, DC Shilpa Nag arrived at the spot and assured the protestors that she would speak with the State Government about providing suitable compensation and a job to one member from the deceased farmers’ family, following which the farmers withdrew their protest and the bodies were shifted to CIMS for post-mortem. Compensation cheques for Rs. 5 lakh each by CESC were distributed to the family members of the deceased farmers on the spot.