Farmers fume as one found dead
Situation turns tense at turmeric yard
A turmeric farmer was found dead in Nizamabad agriculture market yard on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Dasari Chinna Gangaram, 68, of Uddandi village in Ibrahimpet mandal of Jagtial district.
It is believed that the farmer died as he was unable to bear the steep fall in turmeric prices. Angry farmers attacked the commission agent’s shop and injured a worker (hamali).
A tense situation prevailed in the market yard as police was deployed in large numbers.
Speaking to this newspaper, Ganga Narsaiah, a relative of the deceased, said Chinna Gangaram cultivated turmeric in two acres and brought it to Nizamabad for sale on Tuesday. Traders offered merely `3,800 per quintal of turmeric, he said.
Shocked over the fall in price, Chinna Gangaram slept on the heap of turmeric and was later found dead there.
After being informed about the death, his kin and Uddandi villagers rushed to the market yard and staged a protest at the market office. They tried to question the commission agent for the delay in purchase and low price.
Meantime, Narsaiah, a hamali, confronted the farmers. In a fit of rage, the farmers attacked him.
III Town police rushed to the spot and the body was shifted to the government general hospital for post-mortem.
Nizamabad market committee selection grade secretary Sangaiah said they would enquire into the death.
He said all possible help would be provided to the family of the deceased farmer.
Mr Sangaiah urged the farmers to ensure smooth sale of turmeric in the market yard.
Meanwhile, police registered a suspicious death case.
Officials believed that the farmer might have died due to a heart attack or sunstroke.