The farmers protest at Machche in Belagavi taluk has taken a violent turn as police Manhandled them whereas the sarees of few farmer women were reportedly tore. A farmer tried to end his life by setting afire himself and a son of a farmer climbed a tree to jump from there.

The National Highway Authority has commenced the work from Thursday. Farmers protesting not only against the project but also illegally encroched lands and started work which were excluded from the survey project.

Knew the authority would start the project from Thursday, hundreds attached to farming community protested at Machche to oppose the scheme. However, police worked for NHA and behaved rough with farmers.

Angry over taking the work in his agriculture land, which was not listed in the project, farmer Aakash Angolkar got poured kerosene on him and set afire. Other farmers removed his burning clothes and saved him.The fire was immediately extinguished by other protesting farmers and rushed to the government hospital. A son of a farmer who climbed a tree to jump and end his life was rescued. Another farmer threatened to get slit his nick with a sickle wss also rescued.

Farmers suspected land grabbing conspiracy by the authority as they alleged that the authority undertaken project work also in the land which was not listed in the project surveyed.