Sales of sickles hit, migrants unable to earn a living

TIRUCHIMigrant families who travel to Tiruchi to sell billhooks and sickles, usually purchased by farmers and agricultural labourers in the district, have lost their source of livelihood as police res

TIRUCHI

Migrant families who travel to Tiruchi to sell billhooks and sickles, usually purchased by farmers and agricultural labourers in the district, have lost their source of livelihood as police restrict sales. The makers travel to various parts of Tamil Nadu once a year, where they spend months making and selling agricultural equipment from locally available iron.

Four women and ten children were seated in front of a small shed in Khajamalai main road looking to sell knives, billhooks, sickles and some shovels. They had made these over the last month and had set up shop there on Tuesday morning. However, within hours, police personnel asked them to refrain from selling their ware. There have been multiple incidents of attacks using weapons in the state over the last few months.