The Hindu : Karnataka News : Farmers ransack APMC office over unavailability of fertilizers

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Friday, Jul 18, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Farmers ransack APMC office over unavailability of fertilizers

Staff Correspondent

Village accountant assaulted in Nademavinapura
Protest against trader for selling fertilizer at higher price

TUMKUR: Farmers blocked various roads at Kunigal, Bhaktarahalli, Mallaghatta, Nademavinpura, Yediyur, Sanje Mavathur, Yeliyur, Gubbi, Chelur, Hebbur, and C.N Halli in Tumkur district protesting against the failure of the district administration in keeping its promise to provide enough fertilizers.

In Nademavinapura, angry farmers assaulted Mallikarjunaiah, village accountant, when he reportedly entered into an argument with them and tried to defend the Government. Farmers gatecrashed into the Kunigal Taluk Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee premises and ransacked its offices. Furniture and files were thrown out.

Road blockade

The farmers resorted to road blockade at Kunigal on Monday and the Government had promised them of supplying enough stocks of fertilizers to all parts of the district and that farmers could buy them on Thursday.

Hundreds of farmers gathered in front of 13 Vyvasaya Seva Sahakara Sanghas in different parts of Kunigal taluk in the early hours. The taluk had received only 450 tonnes (9,000 bags) of fertilizers and each sangha was issued 600 bags. Four private traders got their share. Sales began at 8 a.m. and the stocks lasted for only one hour.

In Hebbur, farmers protested against a private trader selling fertilizers at Rs. 440 a tonne as against the fixed rate of Rs. 360 a tonne. They blocked traffic on the Kunigal-Kollegal State Highway.

At Gubbi, the farmers blocked the traffic on National Highway No. 206 at the Dr. Gubbi Veeranna Circle.

Over 1,000 farmers gathered in front of a private fertilizer shop at the Nehru Circle in C.N. Halli and staged a protest against what they alleged as “the trader hoarding the stock of fertilizers and selling it at higher prices to farmers of his choice.”

Deputy Commissioner C. Somasekhara and Superintendent of Police Harsha P.S. visited the agitating farmers at Yediyur, and later, held a meeting with officials at Kunigal Town.

After a detailed review of the stocks position, Dr. Somasekhara promised the farmers that additional stocks would be procured before July 22.

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