Eight held for supply and sale of spurious fertilizer

The Hassan police have so far arrested eight persons in connection with the supply and sale of spurious fertilizer in the district.

Agriculture Department officers have filed four cases in Belur and Sakleshpur taluks in this connection.

B. Shivaraj, Joint Director of Agriculture, at a press conference here on Friday, said four persons were arrested in a case filed after his officers found that spurious muriate of potash (potassium chloride) was being sold at Hanabalu Vyavasaya Seva Sahakara Sangha, three persons were arrested in a similar case at Anughatta in Belur taluk and one person in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, from where spurious fertilizer was supplied illegally.

The officer said Milan Gowda, a resident of Sakleshpur, and Devaraj of Tamil Nadu were the men behind the supply of spurious fertilizer.

The officers had filed two cases following similar allegations from Norway village in Belur taluk and Changadihalli in Sakleshpur taluk.

Mr. Shivaraj said those who have not yet used the spurious fertilizer could return it to the societies from where it was purchased and procure the quality fertilizer. “The department is planning to set up a committee of experts to inspect the farmlands where the spurious fertilizer was used and study its impact.”