Kendrapara, Feb. 26 -- In a tragic incident that has raised serious questions about the paddy procurement system in Odisha, a middle-aged farmer from Junagadi village under Rajnagar block in Kendrapara district reportedly died of cardiac arrest after facing prolonged harassment during the sale of his paddy.
The farmer, identified as Trilochan Nayak, had received a message on January 16 asking him to sell his paddy at the local mandi (procurement centre).
What followed, according to his family, was nearly 40 days of repeated visits and procedural hurdles at the Dangamal Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society.
Despite complying with official instructions, Trilochan was allegedly directed to transport his produce to a designated rice mill....