On 6 June 2017, police and CRPF personnel fired on farmers protesting over crop prices and loan waivers at Pipliya Mandi in Mandsaur district, Madhya Pradesh, killing five. A sixth farmer died days later, allegedly after a police beating. The state government first denied that police had fired, then admitted it, paid Rs 1 crore to each family and set up a judicial commission, which in June 2018 cleared the police. That report has never been tabled in the Assembly, and in 2025 a plea to have it tabled reached the Supreme Court.
Key takeaways
- Farmers in western Madhya Pradesh went on a strike from 1 to 10 June 2017, demanding loan waivers and better prices for their produce. Mandsaur became the centre of the agitation.
- On 6 June 2017, police and CRPF fire at Pipliya Mandi in Mandsaur district killed five farmers. A sixth, Ghanshyam Dhakad, died in Indore on the night of 8 June; his family and villagers said police had beaten him.
- On 6 June, Home Minister Bhupendra Singh said anti-social elements, not police, had fired. On 8 June he said the five deaths "was due to police firing" and that this had "been established in probe".
- Curfew was imposed in Mandsaur, mobile internet was suspended in Mandsaur, Ratlam and Neemuch, and Rahul Gandhi was detained in Neemuch on 8 June while trying to reach the families.
- Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan blamed the Congress, raised compensation to Rs 1 crore per family, and held a fast for "peace" in Bhopal on 10 and 11 June.
- The single-member Justice J.K. Jain commission gave the police, the CRPF, the collector and the SP a clean chit in June 2018, while finding that rules were not followed and that police should have fired at the legs first.
- The report has not been laid before the Assembly. The Madhya Pradesh High Court refused to order it in October 2024; the Supreme Court issued notice on an appeal in March 2025.
Background: the strike of 1 to 10 June
Farmers in western Madhya Pradesh began a ten-day strike on 1 June 2017, demanding higher minimum support prices and a waiver of farm loans PTI via Onmanorama. Farmers poured milk on the Agra-Malwa road and stopped trucks carrying vegetables to markets, and the state faced shortages of milk and vegetables IANS via Business Standard.
On 4 June, after a meeting in Ujjain, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said differences had been ironed out, and the RSS-linked Bharatiya Kisan Sangh announced it was withdrawing. Other farmers' outfits denied any agreement and continued the strike PTI via Gulf News. On 5 June he promised to buy onions at Rs 8 per kg and set up a Rs 1,000 crore price stabilisation fund IANS via Business Standard.
In Ratlam on 4 June an assistant sub-inspector was badly injured in one eye during stone-pelting PTI via Gulf News. On the night of 5 June, according to Mandsaur SP O.P. Tripathi, farmers near Dalauda police station vandalised a railway crossing IANS via Business Standard.
The firing at Pipliya Mandi, 6 June
According to eyewitnesses quoted by PTI, protesters torched vehicles and pelted stones in the Parshvanath area under Pipliya Mandi police station on 6 June PTI via Onmanorama. Eyewitnesses told IANS that a clash was followed by stone-pelting from both sides and firing by the police. Ujjain Divisional Commissioner B.M. Ojha told IANS: "Police had to open fire around 2 pm to control agitated farmers, killing two farmers and injuring several others." Protesters also surrounded the Pipliya Mandi police station IANS via Business Standard.
Five people died. PTI identified them as Kanhaiyalal Patidar, Bablu Patidar, Chain Singh Patidar, Abhishek Patidar and Satyanarayan, two of whom died on the way to hospital in Indore PTI via Onmanorama. Later lists spell some names differently. Three farmers' organisations said eight had died; the official count was five Millennium Post.
There were two firings. Hindustan Times, as reported by The Quint, said the first firing came at Bahi Parshvanath after a mob surrounded eight CRPF men and stoned them, and that the personnel killed three people and injured three The Quint. A petition later filed in the Supreme Court says two farmers died at Parasnath Choupaty around 12:45 pm and three at another place LiveLaw.
Curfew was imposed in the Pipliya Mandi police station area and in Mandsaur city, with Section 144 orders in the rest of the district. Mobile internet was suspended in Mandsaur, Ratlam and Neemuch PTI via Onmanorama.
The denial and the admission
Government's position, 6 June Collector S.K. Singh told PTI: "Police have told me that neither did they fire nor did they have any orders to fire" PTI via Onmanorama. Home Minister Bhupendra Singh said anti-social elements who had mingled with the crowd had opened fire IANS via Business Standard. Chouhan called the deaths a "conspiracy fuelled by Congress" The Quint.
Documented On 8 June the Home Minister reversed himself: "Death of the five farmers was due to police firing. It has been established in probe." He added that he had conceded this earlier news clipping via India Environment Portal. A PTI report the following month said the state had told the Centre on 8 June that the five had died in police firing PTI via Business Standard.
The sixth death
Ghanshyam Dhakad of Badavan village died at MY Hospital in Indore on the night of 8 June. Hospital sources said his body bore signs of assault. Villagers said policemen had stopped him on his way to a temple and thrashed him with sticks. Police said the circumstances were unclear and registered an FIR pending the post-mortem Millennium Post.
Accounts differ. His father said a policeman hit him on the head with a baton during a protest in Daloda village, while SP Manoj Kumar Singh said he was injured "during clashes between protesters and police" Millennium Post. His age was given as 26 and 30 in different reports. No public finding on the cause of his death was found in the sources reviewed. The state sanctioned Rs 1 crore each for all six families from the Chief Minister's discretionary fund Millennium Post, and on 14 June Chouhan handed the cheque to Dhakad's family in Badwan IANS via Morung Express.
Timeline
Strike begins
Farmers in western Madhya Pradesh start a ten-day strike for loan waivers and better prices PTI.
Firing at Pipliya Mandi
Five killed. Compensation of Rs 10 lakh is announced, then raised to Rs 1 crore and a job per family The Quint.
Violence spreads
Protesters defy curfew and rough up the collector at Barkheda Pant. Vehicles are torched in Dewas Millennium Post.
Admission; Rahul Gandhi detained
The Home Minister concedes police fired. Rahul Gandhi is detained. Ghanshyam Dhakad dies that night Millennium Post.
Fast begins; curfew eased
Chouhan begins his fast in Bhopal. Mandsaur curfew is relaxed for 12 hours; internet stays off Millennium Post.
Fast ends; activists stopped
Chouhan ends the fast. Police stop Yogendra Yadav, Medha Patkar and Swami Agnivesh from entering Mandsaur PTI via Morung Express.
Rahul Gandhi, the fast and the political fight
On 8 June Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, refused permission to enter Mandsaur, rode pillion on a motorcycle in Rajasthan's Chittorgarh district and then walked across the border into Neemuch. When police pushed him back he ran into a field, where he was detained, along with Sachin Pilot and other leaders Deccan Herald. The Quint reported he was held under Section 151 The Quint. He said the Prime Minister "can only give bullets to farmers" IANS via Morung Express.
Chouhan said the agitation had turned "anarchic" and on 10 June began a fast at Dussehra Maidan, saying: "I will not end my fast till peace is restored in the state." He broke the fast on 11 June with coconut water, saying "Peace has been restored in MP." The Congress called the fast "nautanki" (drama) PTI via Gulf News. Both the Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Gauri Shankar Bisen ruled out a loan waiver, and a group of farmers held a counter-protest at the same venue Millennium Post.
The state also announced purchase of tur, urad and moong from 10 to 30 June news clipping. In October 2017 it launched the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana, a price deficiency payment scheme Business Standard.
Both accounts
Farmers' and opposition account
Farmers alleged that police and CRPF deliberately fired on them while they protested for loan waivers and fair prices. Aam Kisan Union founder Kedar Sirohi said: "By branding us anti-social elements, the government is adding fuel to the fire" Millennium Post. Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh said "the government is using bullets to suppress farmers' voice" and demanded Chouhan's resignation PTI via Onmanorama. Villagers in Badavan gave police a list of 11 "missing people" Millennium Post.
Police and government account
Government's position In the Assembly on 18 July 2017, Home Minister Bhupendra Singh said six people were killed and six injured "in the police action, including firing". He said protesters had blocked the highway, torched vehicles and stoned police, which "forced the police to fire in self defence at Pipaliya Mandi". He said 895 tear gas shells were used and 109 police personnel were injured. Minister Gopal Bhargava said opium peddlers "orchestrated the violent unrest" after a crackdown on their trade PTI via Business Standard.
Claim · Government Chouhan blamed the Congress for instigating the violence; the Congress denied it PTI via Gulf News. No evidence The Jain commission, as reported by Hindustan Times, found no evidence that the mob was armed with guns or had fired at police The Quint.
The Jain commission
Retired High Court judge J.K. Jain examined 211 people, 185 civilians and 26 officials. According to reports, the commission National Herald The Quint:
- gave a clean chit to the state police and the CRPF, saying they fired to disperse the crowd and for "self-preservation";
- did not blame collector Swatantra Kumar Singh or SP O.P. Tripathi;
- found that proper rules and procedures were not followed, and that police should have fired at the legs first but fired directly;
- blamed poor intelligence, calling the information network of police and administration "very weak", and said men firing tear gas lacked training.
The collector, the SP and a city SP had been transferred and then suspended in June 2017, the government saying they "could not control the situation" Indian Awaaz. Congress MLA Jitu Patwari said the report "was written at Chief Minister Shivraj Singh's residence" and asked: "How can it be possible that six persons were killed in firing and no one is accountable?" Farmer leader Shiv Kumar Sharma "Kakkaji" said it was "dictated by the BJP government" National Herald.
Maharashtra's parallel strike
Farmers in Puntamba, Ahmednagar district, started a strike on 1 June, closing wholesale vegetable markets and choking milk and vegetable supply to Mumbai. After a post-midnight meeting on 4 June, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a Rs 30,000 crore waiver for small and marginal farmers, but farmers across the state rejected the deal and carried on Outlook. On 11 June the strike was called off after the government agreed in principle to a loan waiver; Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil said small and marginal farmers' loans were written off with immediate effect Deccan Herald Millennium Post.
The 2018 election and after
Rahul Gandhi began the Congress campaign with a rally in Mandsaur district in June 2018, around the first anniversary Oneindia, and promised strict action against those responsible within ten days of taking power. In February 2019 the new Congress government's Home Minister Bala Bachchan told the Assembly in writing that police fired "in self-defence"; after criticism from Digvijaya Singh he said a day later that no clean chit had been given PTI via Business Standard.
The BJP lost the state in December 2018 but, according to Business Standard, won seven of the eight seats in Mandsaur, including Malharganj, where Pipliya Mandi lies. The Congress manifesto had promised to withdraw cases against farmers and order a judicial inquiry; its government lasted 18 months Business Standard. Across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the BJP's rural seats fell from 294 in 2013 to 153 Deccan Herald.
At the second anniversary in June 2019, farmer groups demanded withdrawal of cases against farmers and arrest of the police who fired. Chief Minister Kamal Nath tweeted that his government was "determined" to punish the accused and withdraw the cases SabrangIndia.
Outcome
- Deaths: Six farmers: five in the 6 June firing, one after an alleged police beating. Farmer groups initially claimed eight.
- Compensation: Rs 1 crore and a government job per family.
- Officials: Collector, SP and city SP transferred, then suspended in June 2017; later cleared by the commission.
- Inquiry: Justice J.K. Jain commission, report June 2018: clean chit to police and CRPF, with procedural lapses noted.
- Policy: Price stabilisation fund, MSP purchases, Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (Oct 2017).
What is still pending
The Jain report was submitted on 13 June 2018 but never laid before the Assembly, though Section 3(4) of the Commissions of Inquiry Act requires this within six months LiveLaw. On 14 October 2024 the High Court dismissed former MLA Paras Saklecha's plea to have it tabled, saying no writ should issue after six to seven years SCC Online. On 24 March 2025 a Supreme Court bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice on his appeal LiveLaw. No later ruling was found. Whether the cases against farmers were withdrawn is not clear from the reporting reviewed.
Questions people ask
What happened in Mandsaur on 6 June 2017?
During a farmers' strike over crop prices and loan waivers, police and CRPF personnel fired on protesters at Pipliya Mandi in Mandsaur district, Madhya Pradesh, killing five farmers. Curfew and an internet shutdown followed.
How many farmers died in the Mandsaur firing?
Five died in the firing. A sixth, Ghanshyam Dhakad, died on the night of 8 June; his family said police beat him. The state told the Assembly six were killed in "police action, including firing". Farmer groups initially claimed eight.
Did the government deny that police fired?
Yes, at first. On 6 June the collector and Home Minister Bhupendra Singh said police had not fired. On 8 June the Home Minister said the deaths were due to police firing.
What did the Jain commission find?
It cleared the police, the CRPF, the collector and the SP, saying the firing was for dispersal and self-preservation. It also found rules were not followed, police should have aimed at the legs first, and intelligence was weak.
Has the Jain commission report been made public?
No. It has not been tabled in the Assembly. The High Court refused to order it in October 2024, and the Supreme Court issued notice on an appeal in March 2025.
Did Mandsaur affect the 2018 Madhya Pradesh election?
The Congress made it a campaign plank and won the state, but the BJP won seven of eight seats in the Mandsaur area. Analysts disagree on how much farm anger decided the result.
Sources
- PTI via Onmanorama: Five killed as farmers' agitation turns violent in Mandsaur, 6 June 2017
- IANS via Business Standard: MP farmers' strike: Police firing kills 5, CM Chouhan blames Cong, 6 June 2017
- The Quint: Mandsaur Firing: 5 Dead, Shivraj Declares Rs 1 Cr for Victims' Kin, 7 June 2017
- Millennium Post: Fresh violence in MP, farmers say eight killed, 7 June 2017
- India Environment Portal (news clipping): 5 farmers killed in Mandsaur in police firing, admits Home Minister Bhupendra Singh, 8 June 2017
- Deccan Herald: Rahul detained in MP amid high drama, lashes out at Modi, 8 June 2017
- The Quint: Rahul Gandhi Detained Near Mandsaur, Speaks to Families on Phone, 8 June 2017
- IANS via Morung Express: Rahul Gandhi detained in Mandsaur, 8 June 2017
- Millennium Post: Another farmer dies in Mandsaur, police registers case, 9 June 2017
- Millennium Post: One more farmer dead as uneasy calm prevails in MP, 9 June 2017
- Millennium Post: Mandsaur peaceful, curfew relaxed for 12 hours, 10 June 2017
- Outlook: A Food Strike, Not Hunger, 10 June 2017
- PTI via Gulf News: MP farmers' unrest: Chouhan calls off fast, 11 June 2017
- PTI via Morung Express: CM Chouhan ends his fast for 'peace', 11 June 2017
- Millennium Post: Shivraj Singh ends his indefinite fast, 11 June 2017
- Deccan Herald: Maharashtra agrees to waive farmers' loans, 11 June 2017
- Millennium Post: Maharashtra farmers to call off 12-day strike, 11 June 2017
- Millennium Post: CM visits Mandsaur, gives Rs 1 cr cheque to kin of deceased farmer, 14 June 2017
- IANS via Morung Express: MP CM gives Rs 1 crore to dead farmer's family, 14 June 2017
- Indian Awaaz: MP govt suspends 3 officials for not containing farmers' agitation, 22 June 2017
- PTI via Business Standard: Six persons died in police action in Mandsaur: MP govt, 18 July 2017
- Oneindia: Deceased farmer's family say they were asked not to meet Rahul Gandhi, 6 June 2018
- The Quint: Mandsaur Firing: Probe Panel Gives Clean Chit to MP Cops, CRPF, 20 June 2018
- National Herald: Mandsaur firing: Panel gives clean chit to cops, Opposition demands CBI probe, 20 June 2018
- PTI via Business Standard: Mandsaur firing: MP minister makes U-turn, says no clean chit, 19 Feb 2019
- SabrangIndia: Two years after Mandsaur killing, farmers continue to protest to get justice, 8 June 2019
- Deccan Herald (opinion): Lakhimpur violence: Echoes of Mandsaur June 2017, 5 Oct 2021
- Business Standard: Battle for MP: 6 years on, Mandsaur police firing missing from poll pitch, 14 Nov 2023
- SCC Online: MP HC rejects PIL to table Justice Jain Commission report, 26 Oct 2024
- LiveLaw: Supreme Court issues notice in plea seeking tabling of Jain Commission report, 24 Mar 2025