Director General of Police D.M. Awasthi on Friday instructed superintendents of police of all the districts to take stern steps against the middlemen involved in duping innocent farmers of the state in the pretext of providing loans.
“Some incidents of duping illiterate farmers by middlemen have come into the fore. The modus operandi in these cases is to take the loan books and thumb impression of farmers on documents to get the sanctioned amount from the bank. Since the farmers are illiterate they often don’t know the exact amount of the sanctioned loan,” the DGP said in an order.
“It is a serious matter and actions must be taken by launching an operation against such culprits and their gangs”, the DGP further instructed.
The matter came to the light after two farmers Tularam Maurya and Sukhdas of Bastar region were arrested in connection with a cheque-bounce case.
The arrest triggered protest over the “injustice” done to the innocent farmers who have been duped.
The ruling Congress also came under criticism over the arrest as it claimed to have waived off farm loans after coming to power.
After a probe was ordered, prima-facie through documents produced by farmers and based on evidences it was proved that they were duped by someone else.
The farmers were later released on bail by a lower court.