Farmers block the Ropar-Kharar highway on Friday. Tribune photo

Ropar, April 9

Protesting import of wheat from Uttar Pradesh by local flour mill owner, farmers blocked the Ropar-Kharar national highway here today.

They said the move would hurt those whose crop was yet to be procured by the government. The mill owner, however, avoiding confrontation, agreed to return the imported wheat and announced Rs 2.5 lakh contribution to the farmer agitation. Last night, 40 truckloads of wheat from UP arrived at a mill near Solakhian. On getting the information, farmers reached the spot and protested.

Officials from the police and district marketing office arrived at the scene and promised to look into the matter. Around 11.30 am today, farmers assembled on the Ropar-Kharar highway demanding action against the mill owner.

Farmer leader Gurmail Singh Barra said it was a conspiracy to weaken the farmers of Punjab financially. Two hours later, the police and marketing board officials effected a compromise between farmers and the mill owner, following which it was decided that the imported wheat would be returned and the mill owner would contribute towards the farmer agitation. — TNS