Chandigarh, Dec 1 (IANS): Government agencies in Punjab have seized over 5 lakh bags of paddy from other states that were brought into Punjab illegally to sell in the ongoing Kharif marketing season, a Minister said on Saturday.

Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhusan Ashu disclosed on Saturday that 5.03 lakh bags of paddy from other states have been seized in Punjab in the last two months (October 1 to November 30).

"In a late night operation in Barnala, the Punjab Food Supply department's vigilance team caught six trucks carrying paddy and rice brought illegally from other states to be illegally recycled into grain markets in Punjab. Three thousand bags of paddy and rice were seized," Ashu said.

Agrarian state Punjab has so far procured over 170 lakh tonnes of paddy this season.

"The department is maintaining constant vigil and all attempts of recycling rice from other states into Punjab 'mandis' have been thwarted by our officers," claimed the Minister.

He said that traders in Punjab were illegally bringing paddy or rice bought at cheaper rates from other states and trying to sell these in grain markets in Punjab.

The Minister said the traders have been booked for this illegal activity.

"We will not lower the guard till the entire procurement operation is over," Ashu asserted.