Telangana suspends official for allegedly assaulting local farmer.
The clash happened at the market yard, where CEO Pandari and two others allegedly beat farmer Mahesh for shifting his cotton.
Hyderabad: A senior official of the Telangana State Cooperative Marketing Federation was suspended on Monday, November 24, after he was found assaulting a farmer at the Adilabad market yard, an incident that sparked outrage among local farming communities. The action came swiftly after the victim, a farmer named Mahesh, reported the assault and escalated the matter to the district administration.
According to officials, Adilabad district collector Rajarshi Shah suspended PACS CEO Pandari for his misconduct on the evening of November 23. The suspension order stated that the official had behaved irresponsibly and violently while allegedly under the influence of alcohol. The collector also instructed authorities to verify whether the accused was indeed intoxicated at the time of the incident.
How the incident unfolded
The confrontation took place at the market yard, where farmers typically bring their produce for weighing and sale. Mahesh, who had arrived with his cotton from Lekarwada village, was in the process of shifting his produce when an altercation began. According to his statement, CEO Pandari approached him aggressively, accusing him of arriving too late and disrupting the yard’s closing procedures.
Mahesh alleged that the official not only verbally abused him but also physically assaulted him without provocation. “I came with my cotton produce from Lekarwada village. While I was shifting the cotton in a cart after the closing time, he suddenly attacked me,” he said in a video that has since circulated widely on social media. In the clip, the shaken farmer recounts how Pandari grabbed him by the collar and attempted to beat him repeatedly.
The incident escalated quickly as bystanders tried to intervene. Mahesh said he immediately called the police, who reached the market yard and attempted to pacify the situation. However, their efforts were unsuccessful, as Pandari allegedly refused to cooperate and continued behaving aggressively.
Community reaction and official response
News of the assault spread rapidly among the local farming community, triggering anger and condemnation. Farmers’ groups demanded swift action, arguing that those responsible for managing market yards should be supporting farmers—not threatening or attacking them.
Eyewitnesses at the yard claimed that the official appeared intoxicated during the incident. Some said he had been quarrelling with farmers earlier in the day as well. These claims prompted the district collector to order a detailed investigation, including medical verification of whether Pandari was in an inebriated condition.
As police struggled to manage the situation, the district administration stepped in. Collector Rajarshi Shah issued clear instructions to register a case against the suspended official and ensure that the matter was handled strictly according to law. The swift suspension was welcomed by local residents, who said it sent a strong message that such behaviour from officials would not be tolerated.
Wider concerns
The incident has also reopened discussions about the treatment of farmers at procurement centres and market yards across the state. In recent months, several farmer groups have alleged that officials at some centres behave rudely or impose arbitrary rules, leaving farmers feeling vulnerable and unsupported. This latest assault has intensified those concerns, leading some groups to call for better oversight and accountability within marketing federations.
For Mahesh, the experience was traumatic. Speaking to local reporters, he said he had simply come to sell his cotton like every other farmer, and never expected to be met with violence by an officer responsible for regulating the marketplace. “I only wanted to move my produce. Instead, I was beaten and insulted,” he said, adding that he hopes the authorities will ensure such incidents do not happen again.
As the investigation proceeds, the district administration has assured the farming community that strict action will be taken based on evidence. For now, the suspension of CEO Pandari has offered some relief, but farmers say they will be watching closely to ensure justice is served.