Sangrur: Officials keep tabs on illegal sale of paddy

Sangrur, October 8

The Sangrur police have set up six permanent check posts and 11 special teams to prevent the illegal sale of paddy from other states in the district, which shares 42-km-long border with Haryana. Similarly, the Barnala administration and police have also started inspecting vehicles.

Flying squads to operate till Dec

• The Department of Food and Civil Supplies will deploy officers round the clock till December to thwart attempts to bring other states’ paddy into Punjab, said Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Food and Civil Supplies Minister
• The minister said 150 teams having 1,500 personnel would work 24×7 and man all inter-state check posts

In the past also, Khanauri and Moonak police stations had thwarted attempts of some Haryana residents to sell their paddy in grain markets and at government purchase centres located in border areas. Sangrur SSP Swapan Sharma has directed the cops at both police stations to remain on guard. “Farmers are willing to cooperate with the police and prevent the sale of illegal paddy. The police should keep vigil at all entry points a during nights,” said Rinku Moonak, a BKU Ugrahan leader.

The Sangrur SSP said besides being on guard at borders, patrolling parties are conducting checks across district. “If any farmer has any information about the illegal sale of paddy, we will ensure quick action,” the SSP.

In Barnala, at all five market committees, including Barnala, Tapa, Dhanaula, Mehal Kalan and Bhadaur, tehsildars and naib tehsildars are leading teams to keep a check on the illegal sale. The teams include policemen, employees of Assistant Taxation Commissioner’s office, Food and Civil Supplies Department employees and market committee employees. “The teams are closely monitoring their respective areas to ensure that paddy from other states does not enter into Barnala,” said Kumar Sourabh Raj, Barnala DC. — TNS