Strengthening intelligence to counter terrorism: Sukhbir

In order to further give a fillip to the morale of the police force,the Deputy CM said,he had initiated 1,500 promotions in the last two months,besides providing insurance cover and weekly offs for all police personnel. The state Cabinet nod was also sought for recruiting 2,000 more police personnel at different levels all over the state to infuse fresh blood in the force,he added. “Police weapons are being modernised and police stations will be computerised to make all complaints online,” Sukhbir announced.

On the return of case property,he said the initiative was the first in a series of reform measures being taken by the government to reduce red-tapism. Of the total case property returned,Rs 1.8 crore was in cash,Rs 1.02 crore in jewellery and gold,and Rs 1.21 crore worth of vehicles.

Patran businessman Parkash Chand was almost in tears as he received back his Rs 40 lakh in cash,which he had lost a few months ago in a cheating case. This money,after its recovery from the accused,was locked up as case property with the police. This however,was not an isolated case,as the district police presented the recovered cash,property and goods back to their original owners,within 90 days of the theft or crime incident. Besides 29 cars,other items returned included laptops,mobiles,cameras and other expensive household and electronic goods.

Sukhbir said the public had to suffer due to late return of case property in the past. “From now on,such programmes will be organised every three months in each police zone,” he said.

Earlier,Sukhbir flagged off five new air-conditioned buses of the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC),and claimed that the state would add another 2,500 buses in the next two years both in the public and private sector. He also announced that employees of the PRTC will get the Fifth Pay Commission benefits from April 1 this year. Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal was also present.