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Farmer guarding garlic crop found murdered in Ujjain

The villagers told police that garlic crop has not been stolen from the field, but it could be a reason behind the rivalry

Published on: Mar 19, 2024, 17:10:19 IST
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A farmer, who was guarding the garlic crop at his farm during the night, was found murdered on a cot in the field in Baloda Lakkha village of Badnagar in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain district on Tuesday morning, said police. The deceased, identified as Kishan Singh Chavda, 50, was a local leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

The farmers are hoping that the price of garlic will increase further and they guard their crop. (Representative Image)
The farmers are hoping that the price of garlic will increase further and they guard their crop. (Representative Image)

“He (Chavda) used to sleep on a farm, which is one km away from his home, to guard the garlic crop. He did not return home in the morning. The family members went to the farm and saw that he was lying on the cot and had blood stains in the upper parts of his body. The injury marks of attack with a sharp-edged weapon were found on the farmer’s head,” said the Ujjain superintendent of police (SP), Pradeep Sharma.

Police are investigating the matter to find out the motive behind the murder, said the SP.

The villagers told police that garlic crop has not been stolen from the field, but it could be a reason behind the rivalry.

“In the past two months, the price of garlic reached 40,000 per quintal. For a long time, it had been sold for 25,000 per quintal. The production of garlic reduced especially at Mandsaur and Neemuch due to poor rainfall. In coming days, the price will increase a lot and that’s why farmers are guarding the crop to save it,” said Paramjeet Singh, an agricultural expert and farmers leader.

Commenting on the incident, Congress state president Jitu Patwari said, “Chief minister Dr. Mohan Yadav ji, you are the home minister of the state as well. Ujjain is your home district. Most of the anarchy is happening in Ujjain district only, why?”

Responding to it, BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal said, “Jitu Patwari should be concerned about Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh (Congress-ruled states). The murder of the farmer is an unfortunate incident, but police are doing their job, and the accused will be nabbed soon.”

  • Shruti Tomar
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Shruti Tomar

    I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More