8 nabbed for smuggling paddy

Blurb: 7,260 quintal grain, seven vehicles seized so far: DGP

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 12

In a crackdown launched on the directions of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa against illegal smuggling of paddy/rice, the Punjab Police have registered at least eight FIRs against 16 persons for attempting to sell their produce in the state, since the start of procurement on October 3.

The police have also arrested eight persons after seizing 7,260 quintals of paddy/rice besides impounding seven vehicles/trucks in different districts, including Mansa, Patiala, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran and Sangrur, said officiating DGP Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota here today.

He said the accused were found bringing paddy procured at low rates from other states for unauthorised storage and sale on the minimum support price (MSP) in Punjab, which could lead to malpractices such as bogus billing, etc.

The DGP said as many as 94 inter-state checkpoints had been set up and teams deployed at borders to keep vigil and prevent illegal arrival of paddy. During special checking, over 1,500 vehicles/trucks were stopped and inspected by police teams across the state, he added.

The DGP said ADGP Welfare V Neeraja had been deputed to supervise the checkpoints to prevent unauthorised foodgrain and paddy from entering the state.

Meanwhile, a total of 2,17,547 MT paddy has been procured to date in the state.

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3 vehicles ferrying crop illegally seized

Ropar: The police on Tuesday seized three tractor-trailers ferrying paddy illegally from Himachal Pradesh to Punjab at Kiratpur Sahib. The drivers — Ranjit Singh, Lakhwinder Singh and Balwinder Singh, all residents of Nalagarh in HP — were arrested. DSP Raminder Singh Kahlon said a complaint was received from the Ropar market committee secretary that three vehicles carrying paddy had entered the state from HP. A police team later seized the crop along with vehicles and booked the suspects under Sections 420 and 120-B of the IPC, said the DSP. TNS