Tomato crisis fallout: Farmer killed at Madanapalle after he earned Rs 30 lakh

Annamayya: Amid soaring prices, a tomato farmer was killed by unknown persons at Madanapalle in Annamayya district.

Police suspect that the assailants had come to rob the farmer's money that he earned selling tomatoes.

The farmer has been identified as Narem Rajasekhar Reddy (62) from Bodimalladinne village.

The farmer recently harvested tomatoes and sold 70 crates in the market. He earned Rs 30 lakh in the last few weeks.

According to the police, the incident happened on Tuesday night when Rajesekhar was going to the village to sell milk. Unidentified persons intercepted tied him to a pine tree and choked him to death using towels.

Investigation revealed that some unidentified men first went to the farm on the pretext of buying tomatoes. After Rajasekhar's wife Jyoti told them that he had left for the village to sell milk, they left the place.

When Rajasekhar did not return home, his wife informed her family members who went on searching for him. They found him dead and tied to a tree.

A case has been registered and an investigation is on to nab the accused.

Farmers guard farms 24/7

A week ago, a farmer in Hassan district in Karnataka lodged a police complaint alleging that Rs 3 lakh worth of tomatoes were stolen overnight from his farm.

Tomato prices have touched Rs 100-150 per kilo in many places, giving a good profit to the farmers. In Karnataka. Farmers have pitched tents to guard their farms and prevent tomato thefts. They are guarding the farms around the clock.

According to the farmers, they earn Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,000 profit by selling one box of tomatoes.