Farmer Standoff: Officials Held Captive in Punjab Grain Market

Farmers in Bathinda, Punjab, held a food inspector and a naib tehsildar captive during a protest at a grain market. The clash over paddy moisture content left three police officers injured and two vehicles damaged before officials were eventually freed.

A tense standoff unfolded in Bathinda's grain market on Monday when protesting farmers held a food inspector and a naib tehsildar captive. The altercation stemmed from dissatisfaction over moisture content regulations in the paddy crop auction, resulting in a confrontation with law enforcement.

Three police officers sustained injuries as farmers refused to release the captives, damaging two police vehicles in the process. Officers had initially arrived at the scene in Raike Kalan village to negotiate the release of detained officials but were met with resistance.

Eventually, the police secured the release of the held officials. The injured officers were taken to Bathinda's Civil Hospital, highlighting the mounting tensions over agricultural regulations in the region.

(With inputs from agencies.)