"glyphosate"

Despite a statewide ban, glyphosate continues to be sold illegally in Karimnagar, with farmers sourcing the herbicide from neighbouring states. High demand, weed control needs and weak enforcement have contributed to its continued use in cotton-growing regions.

According to sources, the traders and middlemen were buying the weedicide for Rs.500 per litre and selling it to farmers at double that price.

Task Force Inspector AK Mahender said the accused was Puttaganti Pavan Kumar, a resident of Buradagudem village in Mandamarri mandal

Henri Martin, a Swiss chemist, was the first to synthesise glyphosate while trying to develop new pharmaceuticals in 1950.