Video: As pollution chokes Delhi-NCR, Punjab officer enforcing regulations forced to burn stubble

The hazardous air quality in northern part of India where the winter is beginning to set in amid a rampaging increase in stubble burning activity continues to be a major health threat for the lives of millions. The air quality is as bad as smoking 30 cigarettes a day, according to a senior Delhi-based health expert widely cited in the media.

But the burning of stubble, the waste of the harvested crops in the vast farmlands of Punjab and Haryana states in northern India, continues despite efforts by authorities to control the menace. Amid this raging health crisis, shocking visuals of an official in Punjab's Bhatinda being forced to burn the stubble. The official was present at the site to enforce the regulations in-place to stop the stubble burning in the first place.

The incident came to light after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, a leader of Aam Aadmi Party,posted a video on X and denounced the act.

"Dear Punjabi, what paths did you take??... The government employee went with the message not to burn stubble but (you) started fire from him," Mann wrote on X, while stating that the Sikh Gurus had solemnised air, and interpreted it as disrespect to the faith.

What happened?

The Punjab Police have now registered a case against thefarmers seen in the viral video.

The video shows the official's hand being held by two farmers as they force him to set the stubble on fire with a matchstick.

Bathinda Senior Superintendent of Police Gulneet Singh Khurana said that after the video of the incident went viral on social media, police registered a case against the farmers.

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He added that the police are searching for these farmers to arrest them.

Bathinda Deputy Commissioner Showkat Ahmad Parray on Saturday (Nov 4)said he had written to the SSP to register a First Information Report against the farmers for preventing the official from discharging his duty.

Parray said the official was surrounded by a group of 50-60 farmers with allegiance to a farmers' association, took him to a nearby field and forced him to put a heap of stubble on fire.

"When he (official) was mobbed, what option he could have. He had no choice," DC Parray said.

"I am also visiting the village myself. We will not let it go way. Lawlessness is not something that we will tolerate,"said the DC.

The burning of stubble in Punjab and Haryana's farmlands is one of the foremost reasons behind hazardous increase in air pollution levels in New Delhi at the onset of winter. According to Punjab Remote Sensing Centre data, a total of 12,813 stubble-burning incidents have been reported till Friday (Nov 3).