Day after clash with farmers, rice millers continue strike

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Malout, October 20

A day after a clash between some farmers and rice mills’ executives at the local grain market, the latter on Saturday continued their strike seeking action against the former.

Agitated over the registration of a case against two rice millers and over 15 unidentified persons, they announced to continue their strike till the farmers were booked.

Notably, the rice millers of Malout on Friday had suspended the unloading of paddy at their mills. Meanwhile on Saturday, they met the Deputy Commissioner, the SSP and the SDM seeking action against the farmers.

Prem Kumar Goyal, president, Rice Millers’ Association, Malout, said, “We have sought action against the farmers who started the scuffle. The SSP and the district administration have assured us that an inquiry into the case registered against us would be marked. Further, the farmers will be booked on the complaint of our executives.”

Notably, the clash took place on Friday at the grain market when some farmers allegedly misbehaved with the purchaser of a rice mill, passed casteist remarks and thrashed him.

On the other hand, farmers said the rice millers had rejected the paddy procured by a government agency citing high moisture content and ordered unloading of bags, which led to an altercation and the turban of one of them was also tossed in the air.

The local police have booked Prem Kumar Goyal, Amritpal Singh Dhillon and over 15 unidentified persons under Sections 451, 341, 323, 506, 148 and 149 of the IPC on the complaint of Lakhwinder Singh of Enakhera village near here.

Local MLA Ajaib Singh Bhatti on Friday marked a probe into the incident to the SDM and the SP.

If the unloading of paddy remained suspended till Monday, it may lead to a glut in the mandis as this is the peak season and farmers are bringing their produce in large numbers daily.

The issue

• A clash had taken place on Friday at the grain market when some farmers allegedly misbehaved with the purchaser of a rice mill, passed casteist remarks and thrashed him.  
• On the other hand, farmers said rice millers had rejected the paddy procured by a government agency citing high moisture content and ordered unloading of bags, which led to an altercation and the turban of one of them was also tossed in the air.

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