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Seven police officers in Punjab have been suspended following a security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state last year. The suspended officers include the former Superintendent of Police in Ferozepur district and two Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)-rank officers.
The security breach occurred on January 5, when Prime Minister Modi was in Punjab to attend an election rally. His convoy was stranded on a flyover for approximately 20 minutes due to a blockade by protesting farmers. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized the then Charanjit Singh Channi-led government for the lapse, the Congress party claimed that the Prime Minister’s travel plans were changed at the last moment.
A committee appointed by the Supreme Court to investigate the security breach found several state officers responsible for the incident. The current Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, led by Bhagwant Mann, has now suspended seven police officers for their role in the lapse. Gurbinder Singh, who was the police chief in Ferozepur and is currently serving as Bathinda SP, had previously been suspended. In addition, a recent order issued by the state home department names six more policemen who will face disciplinary action. These include DSP-rank officers Parson Singh and Jagdish Kumar, Inspectors Jatinder Singh and Balwinder Singh, Sub-Inspector Jaswant Singh, and Assistant Sub-Inspector Ramesh Kumar.
According to the order, all seven officers will face consequences under Rule 8 of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1970. The penalties under these rules can range from withholding promotions to dismissal from service.
