Farmers offer thieves UPI payments to spare tubewell motors

In an unusual reflection of growing frustration over repeated thefts, farmers in Punjab’s Faridkot district have appealed directly to thieves, urging them not to steal tubewell motors and instead accept money through digital payments.

The appeal has emerged from Pakhi Kalan village, where farmers say recurring thefts have severely disrupted agricultural activities, particularly during the crucial paddy transplantation season. Their frustration intensified after thieves allegedly stole around 25 tubewell motors from fields in a single night.

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Claiming that repeated complaints have failed to curb the problem, local farmers prepared a poster carrying a unique message for the culprits. The poster, which has since gone viral on social media, requests thieves to leave the motors untouched and place a UPI QR code at the site instead.

According to the farmers, they would rather contribute money collectively than suffer the loss of expensive equipment and interruptions to irrigation schedules. They argued that stolen motors are often dismantled and sold as scrap for relatively small amounts, causing losses far greater than the value ultimately earned by thieves.

Victim farmers, including Beant Singh, Mithu Singh, Gurbinder Singh, Hardeep Singh and Pritam Singh, said repeated thefts have left them feeling helpless. They alleged that despite incidents occurring over several years, authorities have been unable to provide adequate protection.

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“Our livelihood depends on timely paddy cultivation. When a motor is stolen, the entire farming schedule is disturbed. Instead of facing financial losses and mental stress, we would prefer paying money if it ensures our equipment remains safe,” the farmers said.

Apart from economic losses, villagers said fear has also become a major concern. According to them, the thefts are often carried out by organised groups comprising 10 to 12 individuals. Residents further claimed that some members of these gangs are believed to carry weapons, making it risky for farmers to confront them.

Local farmer Simranjit Singh Brar said that in earlier years, farmers or labourers would often spend nights in small rooms constructed near fields to guard irrigation equipment. However, the security situation has changed considerably.

“Today, fields become deserted after dark because people are afraid. No one wants to risk confronting such gangs,” he said.

Police officials, meanwhile, said investigations into such cases have revealed that stolen motors are frequently sold to scrap dealers after being dismantled. They added that whenever suspects are arrested, some stolen property is recovered from scrap markets, where the equipment is often found damaged beyond use.

The incident has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many users describing the farmers’ appeal as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by rural communities dealing with recurring thefts and inadequate security.