Angry protestors broke furniture and pelted stones at the agriculture market yard in Khammam.
The vandalisation at the agricultural market yard in Telangana's Khammam district on Friday was triggered by people who spread rumours and resorted to physical violence over the decreasing price of chilli, suggests a report by district collector DS Lokesh Kumar. The collector also adds that an angle of conspiracy is also being investigated and criminal cases over the incident would be registered.
Mr Kumar's report states that while chillies were sold at Rs 12,500 a quintal in the month of March, prices dropped due to increase in supply - so much so that roads leading to the market yard were blocked with sacks of chillies.
On 28th of March, commission agents of big companies allegedly spread rumours that chilli would not be purchased after May 1 and thus, stocks should be brought and sold at the market yard immediately.
As prices offered for chilli fell as low as Rs 2,500 to Rs 4,500 a quintal, farmers decided to go on protest. Their anger was directed at officials and the government, which failed to respond to their distress call over the crash in chilli prices.
"We invested upto a lakh rupee per acre. Now, I won't even recover Rs 30,000," rued a farmer.
On Friday, unidentified men, who reportedly covered their faces, vandalised the area during a meeting of the market chairman and farmers' representative and legislator Sandra Venkata Veeraiah. The men broke and damaged doors, windows and computers, pelted stones and set furniture and chillies on fire.
Huge police deployment at the market yard ensured that things came under control.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had said that his government was taking the issue up with the Centre.