TV
A group of farmers in Odisha's Bargarh district on Tuesday allegedly locked up the Chief Civil Supplies Officer in his office alleging severe mismanagement and irregularities in paddy procurement.
As per reports, several farmers approached the office of the Chief Civil Supplies Officer Raj Kishor Panigrahy this morning to hold talks over alleged issues in the procurement of paddy by the district administration.
Unsatisfied with the replies, a section of angry farmers locked up the Chief Civil Supplies Officer inside his office and staged a sit-in outside.
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Sources stated that farmers from Kumbhari village under Barpali block of Bargarh claimed that around 4,000 bags of paddy remain unsold and have been lying in the village despite the state government’s procurement programme commencing weeks ago.
Incidentally, during a ministerial-level meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo in the first week of November, it was decided that the procurement of paddy in Bargarh would commence on November 21.
Barpali farmers alleged that the administration was delaying the procurement and providing unsatisfactory excuses. As such, they marched to the Chief Civil Supplies Officer's office today demanding immediate action to lift the paddy but confined the officer after initial talks failed.
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Following tension in the area, police arrived at the scene and tried to pacify the agitating farmers. Till the last report came in, the farmers were assured that the unsold paddy would be picked up within the next 2-3 days while the farmers also warned to intensify the protest in case of any deviation from the assurance.
