New Delhi, Aug 28: Ex-mill sugar prices in India have declined by around 20 per cent, while retail sugar prices have also started coming down, and given the normal transmission of changes through the supply chain, retail prices are expected to follow the downward movement in prices shortly, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said on Friday.

The government has been closely monitoring sugar prices, stocks and movement across the country and has taken a series of proactive measures to ensure that the benefit of adequate availability reaches consumers. The downward trend in ex-mill and retail prices reflects that the sharp spike in prices witnessed recently was primarily on account of hoarding and speculation, although the country carries adequate stocks of sugar, the ministry statement said.

A nationwide drive for physical verification of sugar stocks at mills has reaffirmed the comfortable availability position. In several cases, sugar mills were found to be holding stocks higher than those declared in their monthly returns submitted to the government. The verification exercise has established that there is no shortage of sugar in the country and there is no justification for panic buying or excessive stocking, it said.

In some cases, sugar mills were also found to be resorting to “short selling”, which means selling less sugar than the quantity allocated to them under the monthly quota. Such practices tend to unnecessarily constrain market supplies despite adequate physical stocks, the statement said.

The government has also observed that, in certain cases, sugar sold by mills at the beginning of the month was being dispatched or lifted by buyers only towards the end of the month. This practice contributed to artificial scarcity in the market. To address such issues and ensure that sugar reaches the market in a timely manner, the government has decided to introduce a fortnightly sugar allocation system from September, replacing the existing monthly quota system. Under the fortnightly quota, mills will be required to sell at least 40 per cent of the allocation in the first week and the remaining quantity in the succeeding week.

Sugar mills have already been directed to ensure that sugar sold is dispatched from the mill within seven days of sale. The combination of fortnightly quota allocation and mandatory dispatch within seven days will significantly improve the movement of sugar through the supply chain. It will ensure that sugar moves quickly from mills to dealers and ultimately to consumers, while discouraging unnecessary accumulation and speculative holding of stocks. Bulk consumers of sugar have also been advised not to accumulate stocks in excess of their operational requirements.

Sugarcane crushing for the new season will also commence from October 15, and it is expected that more than 10 LMT of sugar will be produced during the month. The government has also permitted sugar mills to sell sugar produced during October without restriction, ensuring that new-season production becomes available in the domestic market at the earliest. Sugar production is expected to be around 45 LMT in November, providing substantial additional supplies for domestic consumption, the statement added.

Chandigarh, Aug 28: Punjab Police’s Special Operation Cell and Counter Intelligence, in two separate operations, busted weapons and narcotics smuggling modules with the arrest of six people, recovering 2.9 kg heroin and eight high-end pistols along with six cartridges from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.

Those arrested have been identified as Inderpal Singh, Sikandarjit Singh, Happy Singh, alias Veerpal Singh, Sunil Masih, Rajan Masih and Pardeep Singh.

DGP Yadav said preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused were involved in cross-border smuggling and were receiving consignments through drones for further distribution among criminals in the state.

Further investigation is underway to identify all people associated with the cross-border network.

Sharing details of the first operation, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Sukhminder Singh Mann said that Counter Intelligence Amritsar teams had received an input that suspects Sunil and Rajan had received a huge consignment of illegal pistols and were expected to deliver them to their associate Pardeep Singh.

The police intercepted the trio and recovered seven pistols from their possession.

In the second operation, AIG Mann said Special Operation Cell teams apprehended Inderpal, Sikanderjit and Happy Singh after recovering 2.9 kg heroin and one pistol from their possession.

The AIG said comprehensive investigations are currently underway to unearth the full scale of the network.

More arrests and recoveries are likely in the coming days, he said.

In this regard, two first information reports (FIRs) under Sections 25 and 25 (8) of the Arms Act and Sections 61 (2) and 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act, Sections 21, 25 and 29 of the NDPS Act, Section 25 of the Arms Act and Sections 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 of the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam have been registered at the Special Operation Cell police station in Amritsar.

Jaipur, Aug 28: The Rajasthan Police have solved the murder mystery surrounding the death of an elderly couple in Punavali village, under the Saira police station area. According to police, the crime was committed with the intention of robbing the couple.

The alleged mastermind was their neighbour, Kushal alias Khushi Paliwal.

Five accused have been arrested, while a sixth suspect has been detained. Police have also recovered the vehicle allegedly used in the crime.

According to District Superintendent of Police Amrita Duhan, the deceased, Lahrilal Paliwal and his wife, Radhabai, lived in Punavali.

On the night of August 11, their son, Manohar Lal, who lives in Gujarat, spoke to Radhabai over the phone. When the couple could not be found at home the following day, relatives and others began searching for them. On August 14, their bodies were found inside a storage chest, or bedding box, kept in the house.

Police investigation revealed that Kushal had allegedly been planning the crime for around a year and a half. Police said he had taken loans from individuals and banks and was struggling to repay them. Facing financial difficulties, he allegedly decided to target the couple, knowing that they often lived alone and kept jewellery and cash at home. On August 9, Kushal allegedly arrived in Punavali with his associates Chandan Yadav, Vikas Kharwad, and Dilip Chaudhary.

The group reportedly conducted a recce of the couple’s house and the surrounding area. Afterwards, they travelled via Gogunda towards Panariyo Madri. On their return, they stayed at a hotel near the Gogunda toll plaza, where police said they finalised their plan.

Kushal allegedly later involved his cousins, Kishan Paliwal and Jeevan Paliwal, in the scheme. On August 10, Kushal and Chandan reportedly visited Lahrilal’s house again.

As a neighbour, Kushal was allowed inside, and Radhabai served the two men a meal. During the visit, police said Kushal concealed a hammer that he found inside the house under his clothes. However, after noticing movement around the premises, the two men left. On the morning of August 11, Kushal and Chandan returned to the couple’s house but left when they found the door locked. Later that night, Kishan and Jeevan allegedly arrived at the house on the pretext of showing a horoscope. Lahrilal was upstairs at the time.

According to police, the two men distracted Radhabai, allowing Kushal to enter the house and hide in the bathroom. Kushal later messaged Kishan and Jeevan, instructing them to leave. Late that night, Kushal allegedly opened the door and allowed Chandan, Dilip, and Vikas to enter.

Police said the accused then went upstairs and killed Lahrilal by striking him on the head with a hammer. Radhabai was allegedly strangled while she was sleeping in a downstairs room.

The accused then reportedly placed both bodies in plastic bags and hid them inside the storage compartment of a bed, covering them with bedding.

Using Radhabai’s keys, they allegedly opened the wardrobe and stole jewellery and cash. Police said the accused also took the couple’s mobile phones and later discarded them on a highway while the devices were still switched on.

Investigators believe the suspects attempted to stage the scene to make it appear that the couple had left the house voluntarily. During the investigation, police analysed call records and location data from the deceased couple’s mobile phones and questioned local residents.

Technical analysis and other investigative leads eventually directed investigators towards a suspicious car. Police said the vehicle had been seen in the area on the nights of August 9-11 and again at around 5 a.m. on August 12. Its presence was also recorded at the Kherwara toll plaza.

Acting on information about the vehicle, police expanded their investigation and allegedly established the involvement of Kushal Paliwal and his associates.

The arrested accused were identified as Kushal alias Khushi Paliwal (26) of Punavali, currently residing in Surat; Chandan Yadav (27) of Samastipur, Bihar, currently residing in Surat; Dilip Chaudhary (30) of Surat; Kishan Paliwal (21) of Punavali and Jeevan Paliwal (21) of Punavali. Police have recovered the vehicle allegedly used in the crime, while a sixth accused has been detained.