Protest by farmers and opposition parties with the demand of ensuring remunerative price to red chilli crop continued in the State, particularly in Khammam and Warangal districts, on Tuesday even as traders slightly increased the price in the range of ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 per quintal.
According to reports, the activists of CPI (M), CPI, CPI (ML-New Democracy) and Telugu Desam Party staged road blockade at all the important entry points into the district seeking remunerative price to red chilli crop and demanding release of arrested farmers and political activists. The road blockades were mainly held at the district's borders with Suryapet, Mahabubabad and Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts also.
Enumamula market yard in Warangal Urban district received about 80,000 bags of chilli produce on Tuesday. Market Secretary Azmeera Raju said there was brisk sale of produce and the price ranged from ₹4,000 to ₹5,800 depending on variety and quality.
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Congress senior leader Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy and Podem Veeraiah who were on the way to market yard were arrested by the police as a precautionary measure. The police did not allow general public and political activists into the market yard in view of recent incidents at Khammam. Only those with passbook or Aadhar card were allowed inside.
Meanwhile, Mr. Venkata Ramana Reddy said he would undertake a 24-hour hunger strike at Ekasila Park on Wednesday protesting the indifferent attitude of the State Government towards chilli farmers.