3 dead in police firing during farmer protest on Mumbai-Pune highway

Pune:  At least three farmers have died and 18 injured in police firing during a protest at the Mumbai-Pune highway. The farmers had jammed the express highway on Tuesday morning to protest the diversion of agricultural water away from their land. Police opened fire after the protests turned violent and began pelting stones at police vehicles.

An underground water pipe line project is aimed at diverting water from the Pawna dam to the Pimpri-Chinchwad Township.

Thousands of farmers blocked the old Mumbai-Pune Highway and new Mumbai-Pune Expressway, resulting in a traffic jam stretching more than 10 kilometers, on both highways in either direction. The highway was cleared for traffic late afternoon.

"We told them to clear the road since it is an expressway. While we were negotiating with their leaders, the famers started throwing stones. They burnt down three police vans. Some of our officers are injured, especially one police inspector." said Sandeep Karnik, Superintendent of Police, Pune (Rural).

The firing took place in Mawal Taluka in Pune.

The Maharashtra Assembly adjourned after uproar over farmer killings with the opposition criticizing the government action.