Odisha farmers stage protest over paddy procurement tokens

Several farmers staged a sit-in protest on the National Highway over irregularities in the issuance of tokens for paddy procurement near Sindurpank Square in Sambalpur on Friday.

According to the protestors, though several farmers in Sambalpur district have registered to sell their harvested paddy during the paddy procurement, many of them have allegedly not received their tokens.

Hundreds of farmers, unhappy with the situation, staged the protest, seeking a resolution to the issue.

As per reports, the agitation led to severe traffic congestion, leaving many vehicles stranded on both sides of the National Highway.

Apart from Sindurpank Square, hundreds of farmers also reportedly staged a protest near Bareipali and Dhama over tokens, infrastructure and paddy procurement issues.

Also Read: Farmers clash with police, block NH-53 over deadlock at paddy mandis in Odisha’s Bargarh

The departmental authorities and Sub-Collector reportedly reached the spot and tried to pacify the agitating farmers.

A couple of days back, hundreds of farmers had staged a protest by spreading and drying paddy right on the National Highway near Gudbhaga locality of Bargarh district, alleging that the mandi’s non-functioning had pushed them to the brink. 

Tense scenes unfolded in the area as farmers and police came face-to-face on NH-53. Irate farmers blocked the National Highway, triggering a massive traffic jam on both sides of the road.