2008 Haveri police shooting
| Date | 10 June 2008 |
|---|---|
| Location | Haveri district, Karnataka, India |
| Cause | Protests over shortage of subsidized fertilizers |
| Perpetrator | Karnataka Police |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Non-fatal injuries | Dozens reported |
The 2008 Haveri police shooting was an incident that occurred on 10 June 2008 in Haveri district in the Indian state of Karnataka, when police opened fire on farmers protesting shortages of subsidized fertilizers during the pre-monsoon sowing season. Two protesters, Siddalingappa Churi and Puttappa Honnati, were killed, and several others were injured in the firing.[1] The event triggered widespread protests across Karnataka and drew political scrutiny toward the state government led by B. S. Yediyurappa.[2]
Background
The protests were rooted in a broader fertilizer supply crisis affecting Karnataka during the 2008 kharif agricultural season. Farmers reported acute shortages of key inputs such as diammonium phosphate (DAP) and urea, which were critical for rain-fed agriculture. According to state and central government figures, Karnataka received significantly less fertilizer than its projected requirement, contributing to delayed sowing and rising costs for rural cultivators.[3]
In the days leading up to the incident, farmer unions and local cultivators had gathered near the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) office in Haveri town, organizing marches and road blockades to demand immediate government intervention. The demonstrators called for the release of fertilizer stocks through cooperative societies and accused officials and private dealers of mismanagement and profiteering.[4]
Authorities initially used lathi charges and tear gas to disperse demonstrators. According to official and media reports, the situation deteriorated after some protesters allegedly began pelting stones and attempting to damage police vehicles, prompting officers to resort to live firing to restore order.[5]
Aftermath
The two men killed in the shooting were declared dead at the scene, while the injured were initially treated at a government hospital in Haveri and later transferred to the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences in Hubballi for advanced care.[6] Contemporary reports estimated that dozens of protesters required medical attention for bullet and baton injuries.[7] The incident drew condemnation from opposition parties and farmer organizations, who demanded a judicial inquiry and compensation for the victims’ families.[8]
See also
References
- ^ "Farmers pay tributes to those killed in 2008 Haveri police firing". The Hindu. 10 June 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "One killed as police fires on farmers demanding fertilizer". The Times of India. 10 June 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Fertilizer crisis exposes countrywide shortage". Mint. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Farmers stir in Karnataka turns violent, 1 killed". The Economic Times. 10 June 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Police firing on farmers puts govt in a spot". The New Indian Express. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Karnataka: Farmer killed in police firing". Rediff.com. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "4th anniversary of police firing incident of Haveri". The Times of India. 9 June 2011. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "Judicial probe ordered in Karnataka police firing". India Today. 15 June 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2026.