Uravakonda: Trader flees after looting farmers of ₹15 crore

Anantapur: A trader of Uravakonda area has fled after collecting the crop from Bengal gram farmers but not paying them the amounts in Kanekal area of Rayadurg assembly constituency in Anantapur district.

As per the farmers, the trader has collected at least ₹15 crore from sales of the Bengal gram supplied, but has fled without making any payment to farmers from whom he had purchased the crop.

Farmers have approached Kanekal police on Tuesday seeking justice. They complained that they had sold their crops to trader Krishna Reddy Donehal and collected slips indicating the weight of Bengal gram sold. The trader had picked up the crop from the fields of farmers by offering them attractive prices.

Krishna Reddy had on the same terms purchased the crop of farmers during the last season. This year too, he collected the harvested crop from the fields and moved them to his godowns. He assured farmers that he will pay them money immediately after selling crops in the market.

However, without clearing any dues, Krishna Reddy vanished from the scene after selling the crop. The farmers found his house locked.

A farmer Anil Kumar said the trader owed him at least ₹8 lakh.