One hundred and twenty-nine farmers were arrested on Thursday from several places in Raipur in Chhattisgarh, ahead of their agitation for various demands. The farmers, along with leaders of the Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh, had planned to hold a sit-in protest near Budha Talab at 1 pm before marching towards Chief Minister Raman Singh’s residence, PTI reported.

The farmers had launched protest rally “Sankalp Yatra” from Rajnandgaon on September 19, which they had planned to end by surrounding the chief minister’s house on Thursday. The police, however, did not allow them to go ahead with their plans.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure was imposed in the districts of Raipur, Balod, Rajnandgaon, Kabeerdham and Durg, the police told PTI. A few farmers, including three leaders of the Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh, who were arrested were later released unconditionally.

The farmers said the Bharatiya Janata Party had failed to fulfill its 2014 election manifesto promise of making Rs 2,100 the minimum support price. The BJP had also promised farmers a bonus of Rs 300 for each quintal of paddy. Their other demands include farm loans waivers and the implementation of the Swaminathan committee’s report, which recommended land and irrigation reforms, increase in the minimum support price and focus on higher productivity growth, among others.