25 FIRs registered in Kapurthala for farm fires

The Kapurthala police have registered 25 FIRs against farmers and unknown individuals for burning paddy stubble in violation of the District Magistrate orders.

The cases were lodged in Sultanpur Lodhi, Kabirpur, Phatuhiwinda, Talwandi Chaudhria, Begowal, Bullath and Kotwali Kapurthala, based on field verification, satellite reporting and complaints from cluster coordinators and officials of the PWD (B&R), Mandi Board and Pollution Control Board.

Accused include Karnail Singh and his wife Harjit Kaur from Miyani Bolla, Deepak, Mangla Singh and Balwinder Kaur of Ratwara, Sadhu Ram and Bachitar Singh of Lohian Khas, Darshan Singh of Kutbewal, Harbans Singh of Channuwindi and Joginder Singh of Mirzapur.

In several other cases, the accused remain unidentified and have been booked under Sections 223, BNS, and 188, IPC, for burning crop residue in fields located at GPS-marked coordinates in Mandi Kabirpur, Latwal, Busowal, Lodowal, Rakba Mirzapur, Baurad Rakba and adjoining areas.

Officials reported that standing straw and paddy residue were deliberately set on fire despite a district-wide prohibition, causing air pollution and endangering surrounding farmland. FIRs state that further investigation will confirm land ownership and cultivation responsibility, after which arrests and penalties will follow.

The district police have warned that continuous surveillance — through patwari reports, mobile monitoring groups, and Pollution Board tracking — will ensure action against every violation. The administration says it will pursue strict enforcement to curb stubble burning across the district.