Farmers, arhtiyas lock horns as paddy weighing dispute rocks Sirsa market

Tension gripped Sirsa’s new grain market on Monday after farmers accused ‘arhtiyas’ of cheating during paddy weighing. The farmers alleged that the commission agents were using traditional weighing scales that showed 300 to 500 grams more weight per bag, causing losses to farmers.

Led by Haryana Kisan Manch state president Gurdeep Singh Jhiri, the farmers protested against the use of traditional scales and demanded electronic weighing machines for weighing paddy. To verify the protesters’ claims, officials from the Haryana Kisan Manch and Market Committee Assistant Secretary Sandeep Kumar brought a digital scale to the market and weighed paddy bags at several shops.

The farmers’ claim of difference of 300 to 700 grams was found true in five to six shops. The situation escalated when the ‘arhtiyas’ opposed weighing checks, claiming that the farmer leaders had neither brought any crop for sale nor filed a formal complaint. Arhtiya Association vice president Raju Sudha, secretary Rajender Singh and others said they had already agreed to install electronic scales as per the Market Committee’s directions and accused the farmer group of creating unnecessary pressure.

Market Committee secretary Virender Mehta reached the spot to broker peace. Despite a two-hour meeting between the two sides, an agreement could not be reached. As the talks failed, the ‘arhtiyas’ protested outside the committee office, blocking the farmers’ vehicles.

The dispute intensified when a member of the farmer group recorded a video of the weighing process. The ‘arhtiyas’ raised an objection and demanded deletion of the video. The farmer leader finally gave in and deleted the video.

The city police brought the situation under control after mediating between both parties. It was agreed that the farmer organisation would not take direct action in the market without filing a complaint with the Market Committee first. Mehta later said 12 ‘arhtiyas’ had been issued notices two weeks ago to install electronic scales, but many had not complied with the directions. He warned that action would be taken against violators.

The farmers maintained that electronic weighing would ensure transparency and fair payment for their crops.