The Kisan Morcha issued an ultimatum to Digvijay that if the demands were not met by January 11, they would resort to a road blockade and gherao Multai's tehsil office. On January 12, a 15,000-strong farmer contingent gathered outside the building and as tempers ran high, a few farmers started pelting stones at the policemen. At about the same time, a BSP election meeting, which was being held nearby, broke up and the crowds spilled over to the road and to the tehsil building. This added to the confusion and as the crowds swelled, the policemen tried to disperse the people. In the melee, two police vehicles were set on fire and superintendent of police G.P. Singh was stoned.