No headway by SIT, say farmers

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 20

Apple farmers have expressed anger against the government saying that a five-member special investigation team (SIT), which had been constituted by DGP Sita Ram Mardi on May 4, has made no progress in probing all cases of non-payment of dues of farmers by the arhtiyas and traders.

According to the Kisan Sangharh Samiti (KSS), which is spearheading the agitation of the farmers, the DGP had constituted the SIT headed by Additional Superintendent of Police, CID (crime), Virender Kalia, fearing backlash of farmers during the Lok Sabha elections. But the SIT is yet to start its work, said Sanjay Chauhan, secretary, KSS.

Chauhan said the criminal proceedings started by the police at various police stations of Theog, Kotkhai and Jubal had been dumped. He said the SIT was to complete all investigation in three months and submit the report to the police headquarters. The DGP stated in his order that the SP, Shimla (CID), and IGP (CID) would monitor the investigation of all cases. The farmers had lodged FIRs and complaints under the APMC Act, 2005.

The order said the police had received a number of complaints against the commission agents, traders and buyers of fruits for the non-payment of sale proceeds of the farmers. Chauhan said the DGP had stated that SIT was constituted keeping in view the gravity of the offence and its inter-state ramifications.