You are posted as a District Magistrate of a primarily rural district. Excess agricultural production has led to a continuous fall in market prices of crops in the last three years. With elections approaching soon, the opposition has decided to make this a political issue and has mobilised farmers to protest against falling prices. The protests turned violent at some point and police had to fire in self-defence, killing two people. Violence has increased since then and you yourself were attacked when you tried to pacify the protestors. The protestors have also blocked the main roads as well as railways to prevent movement of goods and people. Given the situation, answer the following questions: (a) Identify the key concerns that need to be addressed on a priority basis. (b) What steps will you take to address them?

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Farmers Police Society \ | / / Opposition Government Politicians

Ethical issues

• Right to protest vs destruction of state property.
• Use of violence by state (police) to curb protests.
• Mobilisation of farmers by opposition to [raise] for electoral gains.
• Violation of Fundamental Rights like freedom of movement of people in society, disruption to public order.

(a) KEY CONCERNS

(*) Increase in violence & attempts to pacify are futile.

• Need to understand the demands as the violence is not stopping & deaths may occur. (*) Disruption to normal society due to blockage of roads & railways.
• possibility of shortage of foodgrains, vegetables, milk & other essential services like healthcare et.

(*) other demands such as agricultural prices can be delayed / postponed for the time being as the topmost priority is to protect human life. Immediate if the [?] farmer demands is linked to instant solution to price crash then it becomes a priority to be addressed.

(b) Steps:

• Appeal through media / loudspeakers or any mass communication channel to bring them to the table.
• Upon non-insistence, Section 144 of CrPC (curfew) needs to be invoked to prevent public gathering of more than 4 people so that violence can be curbed for the time being.
• Back channel negotiations to the farmer's leaders about their demands and giving assurances of complete government support.
• Opposition leaders who mobilised the farmers can be asked as well to talk to the farmers so that as they have been in touch with them before (in case the back channel talks fail).
• At the same time, being the DM, I'll relay the situation about prices to the government as they are the ones suited to make policy decisions.