Punjab Police arrests 8 persons for smuggling paddy from other states; 7260 quintals paddy, 7 vehicles seized

15 October 2021, Chandigarh: On the directions of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, the Punjab Police launched a crackdown against illegal smuggling of paddy/rice from other states and have registered at least 8 FIRs against 16 persons for attempting to sell their produce in the state, since the paddy procurement commenced from October 3, 2021.

 The Police have also arrested 8 persons after seizing 7260 quintals of paddy/rice besides impounding 7 vehicles/trucks in different districts including Mansa, Patiala, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran and Sangrur, officiating Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota said here on Tuesday.

 According to the information, some unscrupulous elements reportedly bringing paddy procured at low rates from other states to sell in Punjab, for unauthorised storage and selling at Minimum Support Price (MSP), which could lead to malpractices like bogus billing etc.

 The DGP said that as many as 94 Inter-State Nakas have been set-up and different teams of Punjab Police have been deployed at state borders to keep vigil and prevent any illegal arrival of the paddy in the state. During the special checking, over 1500 vehicles/trucks were flagged down by the Police teams across the state, he added.

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 DGP Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota said that ADGP Welfare V Neeraja has been deputed to supervise the Inter-State Nakas to prevent unauthorised food grains and paddy in the state.

 Meanwhile, a total of 217547 MT of Paddy has been procured till date in the state.