Byndoor, September 12, 2025: On Friday, September 12, 2025, thousands of farmers, led by the Byndoor Farmers’ Association, staged a massive protest outside the Byndoor Town Panchayat office, demanding the exclusion of rural areas from the panchayat’s jurisdiction. The protesters marched from the town panchayat to the Taluk Administration Office, voicing their grievances against the “unscientific” inclusion of rural villages, which they claim has caused severe hardships for agricultural communities.

Deepak Kumar Shetty, President of the Byndoor Farmers’ Association, led the protest, highlighting the plight of farmers in the surrounding villages. He stated that agriculture is the lifeline of these rural areas, spanning 23 km of the panchayat’s jurisdiction, much of which includes forest land. The inclusion has led to a lack of basic amenities like Akrama-Sakrama regularization and crop-related facilities, forcing farmers to travel to Udupi for minor administrative tasks. Despite multiple appeals to the district administration, no action has been taken, and the recent announcement of election reservations has further aggravated the issue. Shetty emphasized that the protest was a symbolic call for justice for rural communities.

The farmers issued an ultimatum, demanding a clear response from the district administration by Thursday, September 18, 2025. They warned that failure to address their concerns would lead to an intensified protest on Friday, September 19, 2025, outside the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, with farmers holding poison bottles and staging an indefinite sit-in at the Byndoor Taluk Office.

The protesters also demanded the Deputy Commissioner’s presence at the site, but as the official was attending a program with the Chief Minister and the Assistant Commissioner was in Bengaluru, tensions escalated. When some protesters attempted to enter the Taluk Administration Office, police intervened to maintain order.

Kundapur Tahsildar Pradeep Kurdekar, representing the district administration, accepted the farmers’ memorandum and assured that a report would be submitted to the government. The protest saw participation from leaders across political affiliations, with Ganesh Poojary, former Yadthare Gram Panchayat member, anchoring the event, and Veerabhadra Ganiga delivering the vote of thanks.