Tirupati, July 14, 2023: The all-time high prices of tomato (which is cooked like a vegetable, but is actually a fruit), while bringing some much-needed financial relief to its growers, has unwittingly claimed the life of a tomato farmer in Andhra Pradesh. With the exorbitant prices reaping in unprecedented income to farmers, a group of antisocial elements focused on their earnings, resulting in a murderous assault on a tomato farmer at Bodumalladinne village of Madanapalle mandal in Annamayya district.
The 62-year-old farmer, identified as Narem Rajasekhar Reddy, was found dead on the outskirts of his village on Wednesday. Police suspect Rajasekhar was murdered following a robbery attempt after he acquired a significant amount of money by selling tomatoes in the local market yard. The farmer had reportedly earned 30 lakh by selling his produce.
Police said the incident took place on Tuesday night when Rajasekhar, who resided in an agriculture field away from Bodumalladinne, was going to the village to deliver milk. Preliminary investigation revealed that some unidentified assailants intercepted the farmer, tied his hands and legs with a silk rope, and eventually strangled him to death with a towel. The deceased is survived by his wife and two married daughters, who stay in Bengaluru.
Earlier, the assailants, who are yet to be identified, had enquired about his whereabouts from his wife. She also informed police that some unidentified persons visited their farm on Tuesday evening on the pretext of purchasing tomatoes. They left after being told that Rajasekhar had gone to the village to sell milk.
Locals said Rajasekhar had earned around 30 lakh by selling tomatoes in the agricultural market in Madanapalle region recently. Police suspect the financial gain could have led to his murder. Sub-inspector R Gangadhar Rao visited the crime scene and spoke to the deceased’s family members. DSP K Kesappa said four teams have been formed to crack the case. “Police deployed a sniffer dog, which went to the house of the victim from the crime scene,” he added.
According to the reports published in timesofindia.indiatimes.com a kg of tomato is now being sold for anything upwards of 150 in many parts of state. Tomato farmers, who hardly got 2 per kg in the market yard in normal times, are getting between 80 to 100 a kg now. Though fluctuation in the prices is common, this is the first time that tomato prices in the retail market have crossed 150. A few years ago, it had touched 100 a kg. Madanapalle region is known for its tomato crop and on many occasions farmers were seen throwing the produce on roadside as they could not fetch even the transportation charges to take the produce to market yard.
