B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Flying squads formed to curb irregularities
Barnala, October 18
The chairman of Punjab Mandi Board, Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, today visited Dhanaula, Barnala and Mehal Kalan to take stock of the ongoing paddy procurement process and the problems being faced by the farmers, the labourers and the arhtiyas.

Cops unearth illicit liquor factory in Fazilka village
Fazilka, October 18
The Sadar police has unearthed an illicit country liquor factory in village Lakheke Utar of Fazilka sub-division. The police seized 3000 litres of illicit country-made liquor (lahan) from the site.

Ludhiana man held with poppy husk
Muktsar, October 18
A resident of Ludhiana was allegedly caught red-handed while carrying nearly 15-kg poppy husk near Malout town yesterday.

Flying squads formed to curb irregularities
Paddy Procurement process
Tribune News Service

Barnala, October 18
The chairman of Punjab Mandi Board, Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, today visited Dhanaula, Barnala and Mehal Kalan to take stock of the ongoing paddy procurement process and the problems being faced by the farmers, the labourers and the arhtiyas.

About the slow lifting of paddy and shortage of gunny bags, Lakhowal said due to the strike by the rice millers, there had been some problems in the procurement of paddy, but the matter had now been resolved.

The Mandi Board chairman said he would speak to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for the early release of the payment to the paddy farmers.

Lakhowal said the Mandi Board had formed flying squads to check irregularities in the grain markets. He said he was hopeful that checking by the flying squads would help in increasing the market fee.

He said the Punjab Mandi Board was paying special attention to increase the income of the farmers and provide them with better marketing facilities. He said in near future, marketing infrastructure would be built. There was also a proposal to abolish the market fee on vegetables and fruits so that farmers get remunerative prices, he added.

Lakhowal said the Mandi Board had approved a scheme for giving direct relief to the farmers, in case their mature crop is damaged in the fields or while going to the grain markets due to natural calamity.

Cops unearth illicit liquor factory in Fazilka village
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, October 18
The Sadar police has unearthed an illicit country liquor factory in village Lakheke Utar of Fazilka sub-division. The police seized 3000 litres of illicit country-made liquor (lahan) from the site.

DSP Ram Parkash said the police team led by SHO Baljinder Singh raided an isolated place on the outskirts of village Lakheke Utar and recovered the liquor stored in huge iron containers.

The DSP said the fields where the factory was being run belong to one Bhagwan Singh but he has given the land on lease to Karnail Singh of village Jamalke. "As per the preliminary investigations, both Bhagwan Singh and Karnail Singh had been running the factory," said the DSP.

However, the two suspects managed to flee. Police has booked the accused under the Excise Act.

Ludhiana man held with poppy husk
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, October 18
A resident of Ludhiana was allegedly caught red-handed while carrying nearly 15-kg poppy husk near Malout town yesterday.

The police said that the accused narcotics smuggler was identified as Surjit Singh, a resident of Shimlapuri in Ludhiana.

A case under various sections of the NDPS Act has been registered against him at the Malout city police station.