Another truck with Basmati looted within 2 weeks

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 16

In yet another incident of its kind, three unknown persons looted a Basmati-laden truck near Rajewala village, falling under the Chatiwind police station here late last evening.

The accused, who were travelling in a car with a blue beacon atop it, signalled the truck to stop. They identified themselves as officials from the Sales Tax Department. The Chatiwind police have registered a case in which connection with the incident. There was no breakthrough in the case so far. This is the second incident of its kind in the past two weeks.

Kulwinder Singh, son of Gurmail Singh of Bhootna village in Sangrur, stated to the police that he was driving the truck with 787 bags containing 35 kg Basmati rice each (275.87 quintals). He had uploaded the Basmati from the Fatehgarh Churian grain market to transport it to Bhagwati Rice Mill at Ferozepur. He said at around 10.30 pm, when he reached near Rajewal village turn, a white-coloured car with a blue beacon atop it signalled him to stop. When he stopped, a man asked him for documents regarding the loaded Basmati. He said when he alighted the truck with documents, they bundled him in their car and later tied him with a poplar tree on a roadside near Bandala village on Tarn Taran Road and fled with the truck. He said he raised the alarm following which some residents of the village came to the spot and untied him. He later informed the police.

Paramjit Singh, investigating officer, said a case under Sections 379-B and 342 IPC was registered against unknown persons and further investigations were underway.

Earlier, too, a similar incident had occurred at the same place on November 6.