Police arrested dozens of dairy farmers on Wednesday during a protest outside the Lainchour-based Dairy Development Corporation (DDC). The farmers, demanding immediate settlement of their outstanding payments, were demonstrating under the banner of the Central Dairy Cooperatives Association.

According to Balkrishna Uprety, treasurer of the association, around 50 farmers were arrested as they attempted to picket the DDC. “We had planned to stage a sit-in in front of the corporation today. The police intervened and made the arrests as we were gathering,” said Uprety.

The arrested farmers are being held at various police stations, including Sorhakhutte and Kalimati.

Both private and state-owned dairy companies owe farmers approximately Rs6 billion in unpaid dues.

Here are some photos of the protest captured by Post photojournalist Angad Dhakal.