Nagpur: The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed that the farmers’ protest site in Nagpur be vacated by 6 PM, noting that the permission granted for the agitation was valid for only 24 hours.

The order was issued by Justice Rajneesh Vyas while hearing a suo motu petition regarding the disruption caused by the ongoing protest. The court instructed the authorities to ensure that the protest site is cleared within the stipulated time and normalcy is restored in the area.

The directive comes amid intensifying demonstrations led by Prahar Party leader and former minister Bacchu Kadu, who earlier in the day warned that farmers would stop train services in Nagpur if their demands remained unfulfilled. “Our farmers are sinking in debt. If the state government lacks funds for loan waivers, the Centre must intervene,” Kadu told the media.

On Tuesday, Kadu and thousands of farmers had reached Nagpur to press for immediate and unconditional loan waivers for debt-ridden cultivators. The protesters blocked the Nagpur-Hyderabad National Highway (NH-44), causing massive traffic congestion and inconvenience to commuters.

Farmers have alleged that despite repeated assurances, the Maharashtra government has failed to extend sufficient relief to those affected by drought and financial distress. Following the High Court’s order, the district administration and police are expected to initiate steps to clear the protest site by evening and implement the court’s directive.