'Meesha Madhavan' style theft; Three quintal of snake gourds stolen from Chennithala farm

CHENNITHALA: Raghunathan, a farmer in Chennithala South 18th Ward, is crestfallen learning that the robbers stole almost three quintals of snake gourd from his land.

Raghunathan came to know about the theft on Friday at 5:30 am when he walked to his farm in the Kalunku area of Chennithala’s Karikuzhi. Raghunathan has been into farming for the last 30 years, by leasing land in Chennithala and Mannar areas.

He started the long snake gourd cultivation by taking half an acre of property owned by Pulimootil George on lease in the Karikuzhi Kalunku area and by also spending around 26,000 rupees.

Raghunathan also cultivates cucumber and other pulses in two other locations in Chennithala which includes paddy in two and a half acres, and banana, tapioca, sorghum and turmeric in the east of Mannar Store Junction. Raghunathan and his wife Sheejakumari, who have won several awards for farming in previous years are now dejected witnessing their four months of hard work going in vain.

Ragunathan, known for his helpful nature, always gifts vegetables free of cost to people but is now shattered with tears rolling down his face. The roots of the plant were found uprooted on the farm. Mannar police have registered a case in this regard.