Coffee growers urge for stringent rules to curb thefts in Chikkamagaluru district

Chikkamagaluru: Chikkamagaluru district, one of the major coffee-growing regions in the state, has been seeing an increase in thefts of coffee beans owing to the high price this season, causing concern among farmers.

The district reported several coffee theft cases, and in the majority of the cases, known persons were involved. In order to curb the menace, the planters urged the implementation of the stringent rules introduced by Kodagu district police.

Mudigere Coffee Growers Association president BR Balakrishna Balur said the theft situation was difficult across the district, with some labourers working in plantations involved in these acts, which raised significant alarms.

A worker at the coffee estate of Rangaswamy, a retired commercial tax officer, in Kaske Bailu village of Gonibeedu hobli, along with a group, stole coffee beans multiple times over the past three months and sold them to a trader in the neighbouring district. The theft was captured on CCTV, and following a complaint to Gonibeedu police, the cops apprehended the thieves and cracked the case three days back, Balakrishna said, adding that such cases were reported across the district.

In Kodagu, police instructed coffee and pepper traders to mandatorily record full details of sellers, including addresses, mobile numbers, transaction details, weight, and amount. If any suspicion arose about the sellers, their photographs should be taken, and their backgrounds must be thoroughly checked, according to the president.

The same rule should be brought in to the Chikkamagaluru district, along with holding meetings to address farmers' grievances and increasing police patrols in residential areas, he said.

In the Malnad region, many elderly people live in coffee plantations as their children are in other districts, states, or countries, necessitating concern for their safety. He suggested for police patrolling at midnight, which will instil fear among thieves.