Post News Network
Sambalpur, Dec 28: Tension ran high among farmers after traders and middlemen from Subarnapur district were reportedly found selling smuggled paddy at Charmal market yard under Redhakhole division here Monday.
Farmers alleged the traders and
middlemen in connivance with department officials managed to sell the smuggled paddy.
The matter came to fore when a tractor (OD-31-4731) was found unloading 300 sacks of paddy in the yard. The stocks were then loaded into a truck (OR-05AD-2757). Farmers in the yard raised doubts on the loading and unloading of the paddy and detained the tractor. Upon questioning, two drivers present in the yard fled with their vehicles.
The farmers informed the matter to sub-collector Kabindra Sahu seeking his intervention. Sahu instead of coming to the spot asked Charmal police to look into the matter and take appropriate action.
Tension prevailed in the yard when police threatened the farmers asking them release the vehicle. Irate over the police action, locked the yard demanding a high-level inquiry into the incident.
Sahu arrived at the spot in the evening and tried to placate the irate farmers. The farmers reiterated their demand but Sahu without making any inquiry released the paddy-laden tractor, a farmers’ outfit alleged.
Sahu, however, rejected the charges and said he had not received any complaint in this regard. He asked Charmal police to visit the spot and conduct inquiry after he was informed about forced locking of the yard. The paddy stock in question was purchased in the name of two farmers Sribatsa Pradhan and Babaji Pradhan who were present in the yard, he said.
Moreover, the sub-collector said locking of the yard was the handiwork of two youths who were collecting donations in the yard for a religious programme. The duo locked the yard after the tractor driver refused to give donations, he claimed. The yard was reopened after police arrived at the spot.
The sub-collector said a probe will be taken up Tuesday.
Charmal police IIC Dolamani Bhoi rejected the claim of threatening farmers in the market yard and stated that they carried out inquiry acting on the direction of the sub-collector.