Sangrur farmers protest paddy purchase from other districts

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, October 11

Farmers from Dhadriyan village, owing allegiance to the Kirti Kisan Union, today laid siege to three trucks of paddy purchased from Tarn Taran by local rice millers.

Farmers here alleged that as rice millers were purchasing paddy from other districts, they would struggle to sell their crop once it was ready. They announced to intensify their protest in the coming days.

“Rice millers of our area are bringing paddy from other districts. We fear they will refuse to purchase our crop as it would come after 10-15 days. Till then, they would have made the entire required purchase. We will not allow the sale of paddy from other districts in our area. Our protest will continue till the authorities do not send these trucks back to Tarn Taran,” said Bhajan Singh, a farmer leader.

He alleged though many trucks had come from Tarn Taran and other border districts last night, they could seize only three trucks.

“Every year farmers of our area face problems because millers purchase paddy from other areas,” alleged Tejinder Singh, another farmer leader.

Punsup inspector Kuldeep Goyal and Markfed inspector Pushpinder Singh said they had been trying to convince farmers to release trucks as legally nobody could stop millers from purchasing paddy from any part of the state. “We have deputed police personnel and are trying to convince farmers. Meetings are on to break the impasse,” said Harchetan Singh, SHO, Longowal.

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