Mancherial: 11 held for trading spurious seeds, herbicide

Seven quintals of seed and 500 litres of glyphosate herbicide were also recovered from them

Mancherial: In a major crackdown, 11 persons were arrested for allegedly selling spurious cotton seeds in different parts under Thandur police circle on Wednesday. Seven quintals of seed and 500 litres of glyphosate herbicide were also recovered from them. The value of the seeds and herbicide was assessed to be Rs 16.50 lakh. Three more traders are absconding.

Briefing the media, Ramagundam Commissioner of Police V Satyanarayana said the accused were Akkepalli Gopal, Akula Vignesh, residents of Kommugudem in Thandur, Irugurala Mahesh, a native of Kaghznagar town, Muttineni Mahender of Andevelli village in Kaghaznagar mandal, M Sekhar, Rachakonda Ashok and, Akula Rajesh, belonging to Dubbagudem village in Bheemini mandal, Belka Santosh from Karjibheempur in Kannepalli mandal, Maddukuri Bapu of Prakasham district and Thakire Santosh, a resident of Jampalli village in Kannepalli mandal.

Bharat Reddy of Maharashtra, Krishna Reddy and Edukondalu belonging to Kurnool were still at large. The eleven traders were found to be selling the seeds and herbicide when police conducted simultaneous raids on their houses, following a tip.

Satyanarayana said that during the course of interrogations, the traders confessed to committing the offence in their respective villages and mandals to make a fast buck. He stated that the traders were duping the gullible farmers by selling the seeds and herbicide promising high yield. He warned that stern action would be initiated against those who indulge in the menace.

The IPS officer commended police officials who cracked the racket of fake seeds. He complimented Thandur Inspector K Babu Rao, Sub-Inspectors Kiran, Manasa, Komuraiah and Prashanth Reddy and their team members for arresting the traders. He gave away cash rewards to policemen who took part in the operation.

In the meantime, Lokandi Bikshapathi, a resident of Buruguguda in Asifabad mandal and Jadi Venkatesh, a native of Wadala village in Bheemini mandal were booked under Preventive Detention Act for allegedly involving in the trading of the spurious cotton seed. Satyanarayana said that a list of the habitual offenders was being prepared.

DCP Uday Kumar, Bellampalli ACP Raheman, Thandur Inspector K Babu Rao and many other police officials were present.

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