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Punjab Farm Fires Climb to 1,642 as Harvest Peaks and Crackdown Intensifies

Farmers face a narrow window to sow wheat by November 15, increasing pressure to clear fields quickly despite tighter enforcement.

Overview

  • Punjab reported 224 new stubble-burning incidents on Friday, lifting the season’s total to 1,642 after more than 600 fires in three days.
  • Sangrur logged 64 cases on the day and 281 overall, second to Tarn Taran’s 374, with activity concentrated in the Malwa belt while Doaba accounts for just 6% of cases.
  • Punjab Police said about 1,700 personnel in the new Parali Protection Force are guarding 353 hotspot villages through 862 teams that monitor fields, counsel farmers, and take punitive action.
  • Districts escalated penalties and oversight with 43 show-cause notices to cluster officials in Sangrur and Barnala, fines against dozens of farmers, and FIRs under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
  • Over 30 unions under the Samyukt Kisan Morcha announced November 4 district demonstrations and a November 19 protest in Chandigarh, seeking withdrawal of stubble-burning cases and financial or practical residue-management support.