The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Stir for supply of fertilizers intensifies in Andhra Pradesh

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Sunday, Aug 31, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Stir for supply of fertilizers intensifies in Andhra Pradesh

Special Correspondent

Agitation marked by road blocks and arson attempts

Attempt by some farmers to torch market yard office
TDP backs farmers at many places in Guntur district

GUNTUR: The agitation by farmers for supply of fertilizers reached a crescendo on Saturday with active support from Telugu Desam leaders at several places in Guntur district. A group of farmers tried to torch the Agriculture Marketyard Office at Piduguralla, but not much damage was done.

Farmer dies in queue

Meanwhile, a 50-year-old farmer Tokala Singhaiah died of a heart attack while he was standing in the queue for taking delivery of fertilizer in the afternoon at Pedanandipadu counter in the district.

In another incident, Assistant Director of Agriculture Habib Basha looking after the supplies also suffered a heart attack and was admitted to Government General Hospital at 6.45 p.m. and his condition is said to be stable now.

The Telugu Desam party district president, Prattipati Pulla Rao, along with former president Makineni Pedarathaiah and a host of other leaders held a rasta roko along with farmers at Piduguralla on the Guntur-Hyderabad State highway for nearly three hours. Soon after the TDP leaders left the place, a farmer, who had brought kerosene in a bottle poured it on a book of coupons kept on a plastic chair in the Marketyard Office and set them on fire.

While the chair was burnt, the staff could save the other property, Piduguralla police said. The marketyard authorities after supplying fertilizer to about 100 people, wanted the farmers to go to their respective villages and take delivery from their dealers, which enraged them leading to yet another rasta roko for another hour.

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