Watch: Farmers attack agriculture market office in Nagarkurnool over low price for groundnut

Farmers in large numbers attacked the market office and a few staff members complaining that remunerative prices were not being offered by traders for their groundnut crop

Nagarkurnool: Tension prevailed at the agriculture market in Achampet here on Monday afternoon, when farmers in large numbers attacked the market office and a few staff members complaining that remunerative prices were not being offered by traders for their groundnut crop.

The farmers thrashed Market Committee chairperson A Rajitha’s husband A Mallesh and a couple of other staff members. Alleging that Mallesh and traders were hand in glove, the farmers abused and thrashed him. As tempers were running high, Mallesh managed to escape and locked himself up in the market office. However, farmers broke open the doors and damaged the furniture in the office.

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The farmers alleged that until three days ago, a quintal of groundnut was offered nearly Rs.7,000. On Monday, the traders were not offering remunerative prices and the prices were slashed to Rs.4,000 to Rs.4,500 per quintal, citing poor quality and other reasons, the farmers said.

This apart, the farmers also complained that their stocks were not being weighed properly. The same was brought to the notice of the officials at the market, however there was no action. Irked over the behaviour of the traders and agriculture market officials, the farmers attacked the office. Learning about the attack, police reached the spot and tried to control the situation.

However, the farmers did not relent and took out a rally from market office to Ambedkar Chowrasta in the town, resulting in traffic jam.

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