Phagwara, Punjab: A day after the farmers from the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Doaba) locked the gates of Phagwara’s Rana sugar mill over unpaid dues amounting to ₹27 crore, the new management of the mill has filed a complaint with the police and local authorities, reported The Tribune.
Amrik Singh Buttar, Chief Security Officer of Rana Sugar Mills, submitted the complaint to Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Jashanjit Singh, asking for intervention to stop the farmers from entering the mill’s premises. Copies of the complaint were also sent to Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vatsala Gupta, and Superintendent of Police (SP) Rupinder Kaur Bhatti.
As per the complaint, the protesting farmers threatened behaviour, improper conduct, and blocking the mill’s gates. Among those named in the complaint are farmer leaders Manjit Singh Rai, Satnam Singh Sahni, Kirpal Singh Musapur, and others, along with around 100 unidentified individuals.
SP Bhatti confirmed that the complaint has been sent to the Phagwara Station House Officer (SHO) for further investigation. SDM Singh mentioned that the administration had attached 10 kanal and 12 marla of the mill’s land in 2021.
Buttar clarified that the current management has already paid ₹16 crore, as agreed. However, ₹27 crore is still owed by the previous owners, with ₹12 crore owed by Jaswinder Bains, ₹6 crore by Jarnail Singh Wahid, and ₹13 crore by NRI investor Sandhar. Wahid was arrested in September 2023 by the Vigilance Bureau over irregularities at the mill.
Deputy Commissioner Panchal added that the process of auctioning 22 attached properties from the previous management has begun, and the funds raised will be used to settle the remaining dues.
