H.D. Kote: H.D. Kote Police have arrested a ginger trader on charges of cheating farmers to the tune of over one crore rupees.

The arrested trader is Munawar Pasha, a resident of Hirekerur taluk in Haveri district. He was arrested yesterday and the Cops are on a look out for three others, who are absconding.

It is learnt that Munawar along with Ishad, Hazarath Ali and Zameer used to come to villages in Saragur and H.D. Kote taluks to purchase ginger since two years. They used to pay small amount as advance, take the ginger and later pay the remaining amount in a few days.

About five months ago, the trio purchased ginger worth more than Rs. 1 crore from the farmers by paying them advance. As days passed, there was no sign of Munawar and his associates or any sort of communication from them. But when the farmers met them after some days and asked for the money, they are said to have told them that they are yet to receive money from the market and assured them of paying the money in a day or two.

As the farmers, who had taken loans to grow ginger crops did not get the money even after two months, they tried contacting Munawar and his associates over the phone but in vain.

In the meantime, farmer Santosh of Chilakahalli village in Nanjangud taluk, had registered a complaint against Munawar and his associates with H.D. Kote Police and the Cops, who had registered a case, took Munawar Pasha into their custody at Hirekerur on Thursday and have launched a hunt to nab his associates.

On learning that the Police had arrested Munawar and had brought him to H.D. Kote, more than 50 farmers thronged the Police Station to lodge complaint against Munawar and his associates for cheating them.