Theft of onion and garlic from the farmer’s field has increased in Kushtia’s Khoksa upazila. The panic stricken farmers are keeping vigil at night to protect their crops.

Due to good benefit, cultivation of onion and garlic was increased in the upazila this year.

According to the department of agriculture extension, onion was planted in about 2650 acres of land in the upazila. Which is several times more than previous years.

According to farmers, theft of onion and garlic has been recorded at different fields in Shimulia, Jayanti Hazra, Shomaspur, Janipur and Osmanpur in lasst several days.

As a result, to save their crops, many farmers were keeping watch at night time at the fields. Local farmers said they did not dare to lodge complaint with the police as the gang was strong.

On Saturday afternoon, this correspondent visited several fields including Soibadar beel of Dangipara and Pathaldaur villages of Jhalukadaha and talked to them.

Around 200 acres of land was brought under onion cultivation in Soibadar Beel alone. Thieves are taking farmer's onion from this field at night.

Local farmer Akram Hossain said he would pick onions from the field in the next 15 days. But in the darkness of last Wednesday night, about 15 maund of onions were taken from one of his lands by the thieves.

Another farmer Farhad said thieves have looted around 20 maund nions from his land at the same field.

Mr. Ali told thieves took away about 10 kathas of garlic from his land.

Kamruzzaman Talukder, officer-in-charge (OC) of Khoksa police station said he would take immediate action.