Briefs: 16 drug hotspots raided

Fazilka: Baljot Singh Rathore, Inspector General of the Government Railway Police (GRP), led anti-drug operations at 16 drug hotspots in the district on Saturday evening. The exercise was held as part of the ongoing "Yudh Nashian Virudh" campaign. SSP Varinder Singh Brar said 10,000 Pregabalin capsules, 500 narcotic pills, small quantities of heroin and poppy husk were seized during the raids.

Farmers seek reopening of fencing gates on border

Fazilka: With crop sowing scheduled to begin by May 20, border area farmers have sought reopening of the wire fencing gates that were closed on April 26. If the demand was not met by Monday, they would organise a protest the next day. Punjab Border Area Kisan Union district chief Sukhdev Singh Sandhu said India and Pakistan had agreed to a ceasefire, so the farmers should be allowed to begin sowing crops in their fields across the barbed wire fencing.