The Punjab Police has withdrawn all orderlies and gunmen of its officers in an effort to mobilise 100 per cent forces for election duty.

Sources said in two separate orders issued recently by the administration wing and by ADGP (Security) to all the ADGPs and IGs, they have been told to mobilise all the personnel from armed battalions temporarily attached with various officers in Punjab Police headquarters. The withdrawal of the orderlies will be only from May 1 to 16, which includes 12 working days, while 50 per cent gunmen will be withdrawn from May 9 to May 16.

The men will be again attached to their previous places after the demobilisation.

The orders state that any police personnel not reporting for election duty would be placed under suspension and departmental action would be initiated against him. Criminal proceedings for desertion of duty would also be simultaneously initiated. Sources said the orders have left many officers fuming. Some officers who have two orderlies are trying to retain at least one. However, with this withdrawal, some 2,500 additional personnel will be available for election duty.

Also, with the withdrawal of gunmen, many middle-level officers will be left with just one PSO. As much as 15 per cent of the total 70,000 force is on security duty with VIPs. Even the intelligence wing has withdrawn its personnel from many places and officers and deployed additional thousand personnel for election duty.