Tension prevailed at the Enumamula Agricultural Market here on Friday with the traders refusing to buy the chilli produce due to naxal bandh call.
Farmers who came to the market with the hope of selling their produce were shocked to learn that the traders had suspended purchase on Friday and instead decided to do so on Saturday too.
Farmers staged a demonstration and tried to ransack the office. They alleged that the traders promised to buy the produce and hence they came all the way from their villages.
A farmer Guguloth Siri of Bapujigudem in Maripeda mandal in frustration sprinkled petrol on the chilli bags and tried to consume pesticide. However, alert security guards on the market premises foiled his attempt and took him to the market officials and police.
The police who arrived on the spot held negotiation with the farmers and traders. Some of the farmers were given advances by the traders with a promise to buy the chilli on Monday.
About 15,000 chilli bags arrived at the market on Friday. It was decided by the traders that chilli would be bought from Monday to Friday and other produce on Saturday as the arrival of chilli was high owing to the season.
Most of the farmers complained that they could not stay at the market with their produce for three days. They wanted the officials to ensure that traders bought all the produce as and when it arrived at the market.
