Bahanaga: Unsold paddy at mandis triggered tension among farmers in Bahanaga block of Balasore Wednesday. Angry over the issue, farmers locked up Alada Cooperative Society and bolted two staff inside.
Worse, when president of the cooperative society opposed such action, the angry farmers allegedly tied him up and beat him.
Farmers said that unless the administration has not given a fresh target for paddy procurement, they would not open the society.
Reports said, paddy procurement was started at Alada Society from November 2018. 385 farmers had registered online for paddy selling. The society had been asked to procure 18,000 quintal of paddy. In the first phase, the target was 3,400 quintals. Society procured 14,00 quintals while Sharada Rice Mils was asked to buy 2000 quintals.
About 200 farmers have not yet sold their paddy. Though they have been frequenting to the society, they are unable to sell their paddy. Farmers alleged that letter of target has not come till date.
Angry farmers swarmed the society Wednesday and kept society secretary Kamalakant Das and another staff Satyaranjan Jena inside the office and locked them.
When President of the society Laxmikant Jena tried to placate agitated farmers, the latter tied him with rope and thrashed him.
Many farmers including Bikartan Mahalik, Shankarshan Nayak, Sandhyarani Nayak, Niranjan Nayak, Manoranjan Biswal, Bhagyadhar Swain denounced the KALIA scheme, stating that Rs 5000 is of no use for them when their paddy remains unsold.
The district civil supplies officer was contacted for his comment on the issue, but he refused to say anything.
When the last reports came in, the administration had issued a fresh target of 372 quintals. The society was unlocked later.
PNN