📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Fauzdar Rashmi
Crime
Patiala police register 423 FIRs for stubble burning
✍️ Amar Ujala · Patiala
🗓 03 Nov 2026, 06:38 PM
👁 2
Patiala authorities have filed 423 first‑information reports against individuals accused of burning crop residue, intensifying enforcement against the practice.
Patiala police have recorded a total of 423 first‑information reports (FIRs) against persons alleged to have set fire to agricultural stubble. The FIRs were lodged over the recent weeks as part of a concerted effort to curb open‑air burning, which contributes to air pollution and poses fire hazards.
Law enforcement officials said the surge in FIRs reflects heightened vigilance during the post‑harvest period, when farmers often resort to burning leftover crop residue. Authorities have warned that violations will attract strict legal action under existing environmental and fire‑prevention statutes.
The crackdown aligns with broader state initiatives aimed at reducing particulate matter levels in Punjab’s air. While the exact number of incidents remains undisclosed, the 423 FIRs underscore the scale of enforcement activity in Patiala.
Local officials have urged farmers to adopt alternative residue‑management practices, such as mulching or using the stubble for bio‑energy, to mitigate health and environmental risks.
The police continue to monitor the situation and have pledged to pursue further legal steps against any repeat offenders.
Law enforcement officials said the surge in FIRs reflects heightened vigilance during the post‑harvest period, when farmers often resort to burning leftover crop residue. Authorities have warned that violations will attract strict legal action under existing environmental and fire‑prevention statutes.
The crackdown aligns with broader state initiatives aimed at reducing particulate matter levels in Punjab’s air. While the exact number of incidents remains undisclosed, the 423 FIRs underscore the scale of enforcement activity in Patiala.
Local officials have urged farmers to adopt alternative residue‑management practices, such as mulching or using the stubble for bio‑energy, to mitigate health and environmental risks.
The police continue to monitor the situation and have pledged to pursue further legal steps against any repeat offenders.