Bhopal, April 21: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today paid a surprise visit to the Krishi Upaj Mandi at Shajapur and issued instructions to hold an enquiry of a trader Dhanraj Rathore for purchasing wheat at less than minimum support price (MSP) and concerning employee of Marketing Society Devi Singh and to file FIR against them if found guilty. The Chief Minister inspected the samples of FAQ quality wheat at the Mandi premises.

Enquiry held, FIR lodged

In pursuance of the instructions issued by the Chief Minister the Collector held an enquiry and lodged FIR against the trader Dhanraj Rathore and Assistant Manager of Marketing Society Devi Singh after finding them guilty. Cases under Section 420 and 418 of the IPC have been registered.

The chief Minister tested the sample of wheat brought by a farmer Ishwar Singh from village Kharkhari in Ujjain district for selling. Despite it being good quality wheat, the trader Dhanraj Rathore purchased it at Rs 900 per quintal, which is far less than the support price. The Chief Minister directed the collector to complete the enquiry into the case today itself and to file an FIR against the concerning firm if found guilty.

It may be mentioned here that earlier the Chief Minister had directed that if FAQ wheat is purchased at less than support price, FIR should be filed against the concerning firms and traders. While inspecting the Shajapur mandi the Chief Minister said that the farmers be paid immediately after weighing of the wheat. If wheat is purchased by a co-operative society then the payment should be made by cheque and if traders purchase it the payment should be made in cash. He directed to appoint a responsible officer or tehsildar at the procurement centres for this arrangement.

While addressing the farmers on the mandi campus Chouhan said that the state government is alive to the problems of farmers and it would be ensured that they get their due and remunerative price of their produce. If any trader or anybody else commits any irregularity against farmers, strict action would be taken against them. Chouhan talked to the farmers and the latter apprised him of their problems. He gave a patient hearing to them.

Chouhan landed unannounced at Shajapur on his way to Dharampuri in Dhar district today. The State BJP president Narendra Singh Tomar accompanied him.