Farmers yesterday stepped up their agitation in the central state of Madhya Pradesh after six were shot dead in clashes the previous day, forcing the authorities to impose a curfew in some areas.
The outburst of discontent in India’s heartland farming states of Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring Maharashtra poses a challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has promised to double farmers’ incomes over the next five years.
Farmers’ leaders say the six were shot dead by police during a protest in the central city of Mandsaur, a version questioned by the state government which has ordered an investigation.
“We will continue our protest until the government accepts our demands,” said Sunil Gaur of the Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangh, or National Farm Workers’ Union, which called yesterday’s state-wide shutdown.
“The government has complicated the situation by killing six innocent farmers.”
Farmers dumped vegetables and milk on the roads when the strike kicked off last week, demanding billions of rupees in debt forgiveness and better prices for their produce.
Tension persisted in some parts of Madhya Pradesh, with a curfew imposed throughout the district of Mandsaur where the farmers died, a police officer said.
“The curfew won’t be lifted until the situation becomes normal,” said the officer, D Kavita.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan appealed to farmers to keep the peace and accused the opposition Congress Party of being behind violence that broke out at the protests.
“The government is with the farmers,” he told television news agency ANI.
“Some people want to ruin the atmosphere. Stay away from such people.”
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi who is expected to visit Mandsaur today said “this government is at war with the farmers of our country.” 
In the past, ruling parties have lost elections in the eastern state of West Bengal, western Maharashtra and the northern state of Uttar Pradesh after farmers died at the hands of security forces.
India has nearly 260mn farmers and farm labourers, and agriculture accounts for 17 % of the country’s gross domestic product.
But a lack of irrigation facilities and years of erratic monsoon rains have led to a crisis in the sector, with thousands of farmers across the country reportedly killing themselves over crop failures and debt every year.
Madhya Pradesh is one of several states that have suffered disappointing rains and crop failures in recent years.
More than 1,600 farmers killed themselves in the state in 2016, according to official figures.
The Maharashtra farmers’ strike entered its seventh day, despite an assurance from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that the state would waive distressed farmers’ debts before October 31.
The prices of fresh produce have more than doubled in cities such as Mumbai.