Violence Erupts After Farmers’ Rally in Gujarat — Police Action Sparks Outrage

Botad, Gujarat, India | October 2025

Violence broke out in Hadadad village of Gujarat’s Botad district on Sunday during a farmers’ rally organized by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). What began as a peaceful “Kisan Mahapanchayat” (farmers’ assembly) turned violent when police and demonstrators clashed, leaving several injured and raising serious questions about police conduct.

Authorities have booked 85 people on charges including attempted murder, rioting, and obstruction of police duties. 65 arrests have been made so far, and 50 vehicles were seized, according to Botad DSP Dharmendra Sharma.

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🔹 Farmers Demand Fair Crop Prices

Farmers gathered to protest against alleged exploitation in local agricultural markets (APMCs), claiming that traders were not paying fair prices for their cotton and groundnut crops.
AAP organizer Raju Karpada urged farmers to unite peacefully for their rights. However, tensions escalated when police arrived to disperse the crowd, citing the lack of official permission for the gathering.

Witnesses claim that a few unidentified individuals threw stones and bottles at police vehicles, triggering a harsh crackdown. Police fired tear gas and launched a baton charge that, according to locals, extended into private homes.

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🔹 Allegations of Police Brutality

Villagers allege that police entered homes and assaulted innocent residents, including women and the elderly.
 MLA Umesh Makwana visited the village following the incident and condemned the excessive use of force.

“The police brutally attacked innocent villagers without reason,” Makwana said.
“Those who were wrongly beaten will receive full legal support. Raising one’s voice for justice is not a crime.”

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🔹 Government Response and Legal Debate

Officials maintain that police acted within their rights to restore order, claiming that the protest had turned violent.
However, human rights advocates have called for an independent magisterial inquiry into the incident, arguing that any assault on civilians would violate both constitutional protections and international human rights norms.

Legal experts note that police are permitted to disperse unlawful gatherings, but entering private homes and attacking non-violent citizens is unlawful unless there is direct evidence of resistance or threat.

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🔹 The Larger Picture

The Botad incident highlights the growing tension between farmers, traders, and authorities in India’s agrarian regions.
While the government insists on maintaining law and order, farmers continue to demand fair compensation, transparency in markets, and respect for peaceful protest.

As investigations continue, the key question remains:

Will justice be delivered to the innocent, or will another farmers’ movement be silenced under the weight of force?

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🕊️ Global Relevance

This incident underscores a wider global concern — the right to peaceful protest and the treatment of marginalized communities.
From India’s farmlands to global movements for social justice, the balance between law enforcement and civil rights continues to test the world’s democracies.