Watch: UP official's SUV crushes farmer's vegetables at market
What's the story
A shocking video from Uttar Pradesh has surfaced online, wherein a white SUV of a senior government official can be seen repeatedly running over the vegetables spread out by a farmer for sale, during an anti-encroachment drive. The incident reportedly took place at a state government-run market in Hapur district, where the farmer was allegedly selling vegetables without permission. Watch here.
Details
As the incident unfolded, fellow government officials stood looking
In the said mobile phone video, that has now gone viral, the vehicle of Sushil Kumar, the secretary of the market, is seen reversing and moving forward several times to crush the vegetables, while some people are seen removing plastic baskets out of the way. Reportedly, Kumar's driver was behind the wheels, while the officer was present nearby, in the market, locals said.
Twitter Post
Here are the visuals from the spot
This footage is from a @UPGovt sabzi mandi in #Hapur. A top official of the mandi went on a anti encroachment drive today. His driver seen in the footage using official vehicle to crush vegetables that a poor farmer was selling inside the mandi .... pic.twitter.com/OM8mnf0DgB
— Alok Pandey (@alok_pandey) November 16, 2019
Quote
Those who don't have shops can apply for license: Officials
Although such anti-encroachment drives are common, the attitude of the official's driver was seen as high-handedness, and widely condemned on social-media. Later, Kumar said he reprimanded the driver on the spot. "(I) told him not to do such things and to tell me if there's any problem," he said. "We have told them (farmers) many times not to sit on the road," officers said.
Similar incident
Last week, a farmer broke down over rock-bottom selling prices
In a similar vein to this incident, another video, showcasing abysmal condition of farmers had recently gone viral. In the video, a farmer from Ahmednagar, Maharashtra can be seen crying after having to sell his onion crop at a meagre price of Rs. 8/Kg. "How do I feed my family," he had asked. Meanwhile, retail onion prices are shooting up for consumers.
Twitter Post
You can watch the video here
This is so heartbreaking!
— Sunil Ahire (@SunilAh64145529) November 10, 2019
A poor farmer from Ahmednagar, #Maharashtra got a measly Rs 8/kg for his onion produce. He is devastated doesn't know how he is going to pay labourers or feed his family.
This is what the man busy trying to save his CM's chair has done for farmers! pic.twitter.com/Zv8sZHMUkw