Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Nov 6: Of late, the crops harvested by farmers are being stolen by thieves. The police department has undertaken certain measures to bring down such thefts.

One of the reasons the farmers lose their harvests is that they make a heap of the harvested crop in a corner of the courtyard and go to sleep inside their houses. Because of this, thefts are on the rise, and work pressure for the police is increasing. To bring down the pressure, the police plan to shift some of the responsibilities to the farmers.

What farmers have to do

CCTV cameras directed at the spot where areca nut is being harvested, should be installed, or alternatively, night patrolling by family members or watchmen should be arranged. Proper lighting of the spot where the areca nuts are kept for the whole night needs to be made. If visitors approach the families in the guise of areca nut dealers, their identities and intentions should be doubly confirmed before providing them with any information. If any vehicles or persons are found under suspicious circumstances near the houses of areca nut growers, the farmers have to alert the policemen.

Areca merchants

Areca nut merchants have to confirm that the person approaching them to sell his product is really a grower. The merchants have to install CCTV cameras inside and outside their shops. If the person coming to them is not from that area, all his documents should be collected. The police department also warned that if the merchants strike deals with the thieves just because they are able to get areca nut at a cheap rate, they will have to face legal action.

Bantwal assistant superintendent of police, Valentine D'Souza, said that everyone has to lead a life with utmost care. He said that CCTV cameras help in security and identification of people. "At the same time, we do not want to put pressure on the farmers," he added.