Bhubaneswar: Tension prevailed at the district Collector’s office at Malkangiri as Congress activists along with farmers started a dharna in protest against non-procurement of paddy at Mandis across the district.

According to reports, hundreds of sacks of paddy have piled up at every Mandi and Government agencies are not procuring them. As a result, farmers are being forced to sell paddy at much lower prices than the MSP, said agitating activists.

Police personnel have rushed to the spot and are trying to placate the situation.  a