Jalandhar, Nov. 4 -- The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued notices to the deputy commissioners (DCs) and senior superintendents of police (SSPs) of Gurdaspur and Kapurthala districts over the increasing number of farm fires. The state has recorded 1,612 cases of stubble burning until November 2 this year. Tarun Kumar Pithode, member secretary of the CAQM that falls under the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, directed the officials concerned to submit their responses by November 6, failing which "it shall be presumed that the officials have nothing to state" and action shall be initiated as per the provisions of the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021. In Gurdaspur district, 100 fire incidents were reported from September 15 to November 2, as against 53 such cases recorded during the corresponding period in 2025, indicating an increase of 88.7%. In Kapurthala, 99 cases have been reported, compared with 96 recorded in the same period in 2025. Members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) gheraoed a team from Delhi that had arrived to inspect stubble burning cases at Mehlan Chowk village in Sangrur. Harjit Singh, a union leader, said, "The government should manage the stubble". Another farmer leader, Manjit Singh Gharachon, said the officials were allowed to leave. "We will confine them for a long time if they return in future," he said. A police official, seeking anonymity, said that the CAQM officials later left the village. "Necessary action will be taken if a formal complaint is received," another official added....