No politicisation of Punjab Police, says Saini

Punjab police chief Sumedh Singh Saini on Friday rubbished the charges of politicisation of the police in the state, saying the force has taken swift and prompt action whenever any incident of infringement of law and order has come to its notice.

"This kind of rumor started after the ASI murder in Amritsar," the Director General of Police (DGP) said, adding "In the ASI murder case as the brawl case at a Ludhiana pub in which Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) S S Mand was injured, the police had swung into action and nabbed the culprits, within a few hours of the crime."

In both the cases, the matter was under investigation and further action would be taken as and when new facts come to light.

Saini said that he was surprised to read media reports giving political colour even to the encounter in Mattewal village between robbers and policemen by alleging that the main accused, proclaimed offender Sulakhan, had been allowed to escape due to political pressure. He said that this was absolutely untrue and baseless.

The DGP said his force has successfully thwarted efforts by vested interests to revive terrorism in the state.

"There are reports that groups are making attempts to revive terrorism in the state," he said, adding that Punjab police would not allow it. Police have "effectively" foiled Naxal attempts also to create disruptions in the state, he added.

He said Punjab Police had earlier also dealt with terrorism and lost 1,784 personnel in its fight against terror.

Referring to the attack on a police officer at a Ludhiana pub, he said, "it was not a pre-meditated plan and it was on the spur of the moment."

"An inquiry has been ordered to probe into the role of Mand in the property dispute related to the restaurant — The Hub — as we have came to know that land belonged to a US-based NRI. The Ludhiana Police Commissioner is also examining the CCTV footage and we will come out with the truth," Saini said.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Rail traffic hit due to protests over Sajjan's acquittal

Family of 1971 POW awaits his return from Pak, fears for his life

Anti-Pakistan protests erupt in Sarabjit's native village

Promised jobs in Iraq, 20 youth return empty-handed