Police resort to lathi-charge as seeds shortage causes overcrowding of farmers in Ballari

Farmers who arrived in Ballari on Monday for buying chilli seeds for sowing have been lathi-charged and dispersed.

As per data accessible, a whole lot of farmers thronged town for buying chilli seeds produced by Syngenta and the shortage of the seeds brought about overcrowding.

A video clip of police personnel dispersing a mob went viral later in the day. It was learnt that bother started after the distributor who was assigned to promote seeds declared closure for the day although a big quantity of farmers have been nonetheless standing in queue to buy seeds.

However, the district authorities denied that the police resorted to any lathi-charge.

“There was no lathi-charge, as there was no need for it. The police simply raised their lathis to disperse the mob when the situation started going out of control,” Deputy Director of Horticulture S.P. Bhogi advised mediapersons.

The farmers, nevertheless, mentioned that the State authorities has failed to guarantee ample provide of chilli seeds in Ballari and condemned the police for beating them up.

Ballari is one of the districts that’s going through a extreme shortage of chilli seeds for sowing.

There have been a number of complaints of chilli seeds being hoarded to create synthetic shortage and to promote them at inflated charges in the black market.

Taking the complaints severely, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K.S. Eshwarappa had, in a latest evaluate assembly in Ballari, directed the vigilance squad to conduct raids on unlawful hoarders and guarantee correct provide of seeds.

To tackle the chilli seeds shortage, the Horticulture Department has organized for the sale of Syngenta 5531 selection at its workplace and a distributor has been requested to promote 100 grams to every farmer.