GUJRANWALA, April 23: Growers have protested against the purchasing of wheat by commission agents at less than the price fixed by the government.

They demanded that the Food Department should purchase the produce directly from growers at the official rate of Rs300 per 40kg.

Some growers told Dawn here on Wednesday that the wheat had started reaching grain markets in Naushera Virkan, Alipur Chattha, Eminabad, Kamoki, Gakkhar, Wazirabad, Sodara, Jura and others places in the district.

They alleged that commission agents were purchasing wheat from farmers at Rs260 to Rs270 per 40kg as the Food Department had yet to start purchasing wheat from farmers. Consequently, they were suffering huge financial losses.

They demanded that the government should establish procurement centres in all towns and villages throughout the district for the purchase of wheat direct from growers on officially fixed price.

SUSPENDED: Five policemen, including a sub-inspector, were suspended from service on the charge of corruption by city SP here on Wednesday.

The Satellite Town police party, headed by Sub-Inspector Raza Rauf Shah, conducted a raid on Hafeezullah Goraya’s house and caught red-handed Muhammad Ashraf and Razia in `objectionable condition.’

The police arrested and took them to the police station. After some time, the police set them free allegedly after taking bribe.

Taking stock of the situation, a delegation of the local councillors met SP Zaeem Iqbal Shaikh and informed him all about the incident.

He immediately conducted an inquiry and found the policemen guilty of charge.

The SP suspended the policemen and ordered the registration of a case against them.

Parents worried: The decision of the only secondary girls school at Naushera Virkan to ban admission to sixth and ninth classes because of the dilapidatedcondition of the building has brought resentment among parents.

The students and their parents have demanded the district administration that it should order reconstruction of the school on priority.

Information gleaned by this correspondent on Wednesday revealed that the tehsil administration had sealed two classrooms last year.

The remaining rooms, which are still being used by the students, are also in dilapidated condition.

When the school administration informed the education department authorities about the building’s condition, it reportedly asked the school officials to lock the dangerous classrooms.

The school has been functioning in a seven-marla building. A six-kanal tract purchased for the girls schools is yet to be utilized for construction by the local government.

The tehsil Nazim claimed that he had moved the issue at a district council advisory committee meeting, but no funds have been released so far.