VEHARI, Jan 31: Growers demanded that the Punjab government should increase the wheat purchase target for the Vehari district.

Talking to newsmen here on Friday, growers representatives Tufail Warraich and Chaudhry Sardar alleged the Passco officials had been involved in the exploitation of growers for the last three year.

They said the Passco had decreased the wheat purchase target to 0.8 million bags from two million. The farmers were forced to sell wheat to middlemen at reduced rates of Rs220 per 40kg as against the official support price of Rs300, they said.

The Passco, they complained, had stored wheat in the open instead of placing it in godowns of the Food department. They reiterated their demand that the Punjab government should direct the Food department to purchase wheat from growers in excess quantity.

LOOTED: Four unidentified robbers snatched a taxi cab and looted its driver at gunpoint in Chak 227/EB here on Friday.

Masquerading as passengers, four robbers hired a taxi cab and snatched the vehicle from its driver near Chak 227/EB. They also thrashed him on resistance and also deprived him of Rs12,000.

Police are going into the matter.

KIDNAPPED: A married woman was kidnapped late Thursday night by her relatives over a family dispute in Gago area.

Muhammad Iqbal contracted love marriage with Kausar without informing his family members some days ago. On Thursday night, some armed people entered the house of Iqbal in his absence and abducted his wife. They also took away cash and ornaments worth thousands of rupees.

On the complaint of Iqbal, police have registered a case and are investigating.

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