4 GOVT OFFICIALS HELD HOSTAGE BY FARMERS IN JALALABAD

FEROZEPUR: A group of farmers on Monday held four government officials hostage for four hours at Chak Balocha (Mahalam) village in Jalalabad of Fazilka district.

According to information, the office of sub-divisional magistrate, Jalalabad, had sent six teams in various parts of area to identify the ownership of the farm lands where stubble burning cases were reported so that ‘red entries’ into their revenue record be made as per instructions of the state government.

On Monday evening, when a four-member team, including patwaris Baldev Singh and Mahinder Partap accompanied by block agriculture officers Surinder Kumar and Baljeet Kumar reached Chak Balocha (Mahalam) to check the ownership of farmland involved into stubble burning, a group farmers made them hostages.

“News of making the officials as hostages spread fast in the vicinity so other five teams, returned empty handed,” revealed an official privy to the matter.

Ravinder Arora, sub-divisional magistrate, Jalalabad, reached at the spot and got all the hostages freed at about 8.30 pm.