Andhra Pradesh State Rythu Sangham president Marrapu Suryanarayana among 45 people including CPI(M) activists and sugar cane growers were taken into custody here on Friday, when they were staging a protest demanding the N.C.S. Sugars managements to settle the pending bills to the tune of Rs. 20 crore.
Sangham district secretary Reddy Lakshmunaidu, CPI district assistant secretary Ommi Ramana, CPI (M) divisional secretary Reddy Srirama Murty and 39 others, including sugarcane growers, were arrested, when they blocked vehicular traffic on the NH-36 at N.C.S. Sugars, Latchaiahpeta in Sitanagaram mandal. A few farmers also suffered minor injuries when police used force to disperse the mob. Prior to the road blockade, they staged a dharna in front of the factory.
Mr. Suryanarayana said that the management was yet to settle arrears of Rs. 7 crore pending for the crushing season 2013-14 and Rs. 13 crore more for the season 2014-15. The NCS Sugars management has obtained a stay from High Court, when the district administration issued a notice to auction its assets. It promised the HC that it would settle the arrears by April end, but it reneged on its promise, the protesters said.
In protest against the arrests, Mr. Suryanarayana said that the farmers would block NH-36 on May 24 with bullock carts.
Sangham district president Gadela Satyanarayana demanded that the administration invoked Revenue Recovery Act and auction all properties of the factory to settle the arrears immediately.
NCS Sugars is yet to settle pending arrears to the tune of
Rs. 20 crore
NCS Sugars is yet to settle pending arrears to the tune of Rs. 20 crore
