In a disturbing trend that mirrors scenes from crime thrillers, organised gangs are repeatedly targeting trucks carrying fruits and vegetables on the outskirts of Nagpur. Despite video evidence and multiple complaints, police action remains minimal, leaving farmers and traders to suffer mounting losses.
Sources reveal that what was once seen as an occasional theft has now turned into a daily occurrence, particularly affecting farmers from neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh who send their produce to Nagpur’s Kalamna Market—the largest wholesale market in the city.
The gangs have devised a well-coordinated system, frequently striking along Wardha Road, especially near Jamtha. Their modus operandi involves tracking trucks headed toward the market. As the vehicles slow down at signals or traffic bottlenecks, the miscreants climb aboard and begin throwing sacks of produce onto their own vehicles trailing behind.
This continues all the way to the market, with each truck reportedly losing 8 to 10 quintals of produce during the journey. These losses are borne entirely by the farmers, as traders usually refuse to cover shortages caused by theft.
The problem, initially confined to Wardha Road, has now extended to other major access points like Automotive Square, with similar lootings being reported there as well.
Traders and farmers say they’ve repeatedly approached local police stations with complaints and even submitted CCTV footage showing gang members in the act. However, they allege that despite having concrete video evidence, no serious steps have been taken, allowing the criminal network to operate with impunity.
Even after the trucks reach Kalamna Market, the troubles don’t end. Several traders claim that theft continues inside the market premises, often before they can unload the produce. Shockingly, this happens despite the presence of a police station within the market area.
“This is no longer just a case of petty theft—it’s systematic looting that’s hurting honest farmers and small traders. We’ve reached out to the police several times, but there’s been no resolution. At this point, we need intervention from higher political authorities,” said a frustrated trader.
According to rough estimates, agricultural goods worth lakhs of rupees are stolen each day across multiple trucks. The unchecked theft is causing significant economic damage to the region’s farming community and raising questions about the role and effectiveness of law enforcement.
With no visible effort to clamp down on the offenders, fear and helplessness are growing among stakeholders in the supply chain, who are now demanding urgent government and police action to bring an end to this worsening crisis.
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