India, March 13 -- Violence broke out in Byadagi town of Haveri district when a group of farmers protested a drastic drop in chilli prices.

The farmers under the banner of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha set 12 vehicles on fire on Monday and Tuesday, including five government-owned ones.

They also vandalised the office of Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), said police.

"Apart from stoning, vehicles were set on fire. These included a police van, a firefighter vehicle, a car of APMC president and a jeep belonging to the government department, among others. The protesters also ransacked the APMC office. The protesters, armed with sticks, forced the few police personnel deputed there to flee. Then, we had to press additional force...