Police baton-charge milk producers at Anand plant

Police baton-charged farmers at the Kheda District Milk Producers' Union plant here today after they created a ruckus alleging disparity in the payment of price difference by the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) to its constituent dairies.

GCMMF markets its products under the brand name 'Amul'. The farmers were demanding a price difference of 14 per cent for the year 2013-14 while the dairy authorities were ready to pay 7 per cent, said Anand police inspector HB Waghela.

Waghela said, "2,500 farmers from 150 villages in Kheda district had earlier announced they would protest in front of the Kheda plant on the Amul Dairy Road in Anand city."

The Kheda District Milk Producers' Union is one of the 14 dairies affiliated to GCMMF. Waghela said that the farmers gathered at the plant were displeased over the non-fulfilment of their demands and hurled stones at the car of the dairy's CMD.

"A group of farmers forcibly entered the premises and destroyed the cabin and a computer in the reception area," Waghela added.

He said that police had to resort to a baton-charge to disperse the farmers, adding that 14 persons have been detained in connection with the incident. An FIR has been registered against the agitators under various sections of IPC for rioting and criminal trespass.

The farmers who participated in the protest alleged that the other dairy constituents of GCMMF were being paid 14 per cent price difference while Kheda Dairy Union was getting only 7 per cent.

The Kheda Dairy Union is controlled by Congress co-operative leader Ramsinh Parmar, while most of the other district milk unions are dominated by BJP leaders.