Andhra Pradesh

Four farmers injured as police resort to lathicharge, firing in A.P.

NIZAMABAD: Four farmers were injured as police resorted to lathicharge and firing when the ‘maha dharna’ by the ryots on the National Highway at Armoor demanding payment of arrears by private seed traders turned violent on Monday.

Farmers resorted to heavy stone pelting on police personnel injuring ten of them, including Additional Superintendent of Police Y.S. Srinivas Rao, who sustained bleeding injuries in a mob attack. Sub-Inspector P. Shivsankar sustained serious injuries and was shifted to Hyderabad for treatment. Among the four farmers injured, Sekhar sustained a bullet wound when police opened one round of fire.

Responding swiftly to the situation, the State government asked the A. P. Seeds Corporation to raise loan from banks and make payment of Rs. 12 a kg to those farmers who sold fodder or red jowar, which has a huge market in North India, to the traders. It instructed officials to seize and sell the stock left over with the traders and initiate proceedings under the Revenue Recovery Act against them.

Earlier, farmers who cultivated fodder or red jowar, staged a massive demonstration on the NH at Mamidipally near Armoor outskirts demanding payment of dues by Godavari Seeds Company headed by one Mahipal Reddy. Trouble erupted when they raided his house and ransacked it. They also damaged the house of his business partner Anand Reddy.

Mr. Mahipal Reddy entered into an agreement with the farmers assuring payment of Rs. 15.4 a kg of fodder (red jowar) against the existing price of Rs. 9 a kg. He could, however, pay them a total amount of Rs. 34 crore against the total value of the produce estimated at Rs. 78 crore. This resulted in anxiety among the farmers.

Nizamabad SP Rajesh Kumar said the police maintained utmost restraint but were left with no option other than using force when the situation went out of control.

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