Enraged over the attitude of society manager of procurement centre of village Silaphili of Surajpur district, the farmers threw paddy on National Highway and set it on fire.
The agitating farmers said that society manager refused to procure the paddy. On information, the Tehsildar and police rushed to the spot.
Farmers were given assurance of action against manager and resolving their issues, the situation was brought under control. For the first time in the history of Chhattisgarh, after its formation, the agitated farmers has set paddy on fire.
As per information received, with final date of paddy procurement on February 20, there has been rush of farmers at procurement centres to sell their produce. But the procurement is denied citing one or other reason.
Such a situation arose in Silaphili when farmers standing for hours got agitated when manager denied to procure the paddy. The farmers alleged that for the last three days with the token issued, they are arriving at centre for procurement. The manager denied to procure it citing that he had got orders from higher ups not to procure paddy. This prompted the farmers to vent their anger by throwing two-three sacks of paddy on National Highway and setting it on fire.
Similar reports of farmers’ agitation also received from different regions of Surguja division. At Maadisarai centre of Bharatpur of Koriya district, more than 20 farmers reached in tractors, no one arrived at procurement centre, even after waiting for hours in open. The angry farmers then put up road blockade. A similar situation arose at Jilda of Khadgaon tehsil in Koriya district where farmers commenced agitation after creating road blockade over non procurement of the paddy.
In Kawardha district, the farmers are still continuing their agitation, laying a siege at Collector’s office demanding the extension of date of procurement and resolving their issues.
