CHANDIGARH – The government of Punjab have continued a recent cost cutting exercise by removing the security of 125 “Punjab Based VIP’s” with immediate effect. It is understood that this will release 200 security guards that can now be deployed in other areas. Akali leader Bikram Majithia had 11 police personnel dedicated to him and these have now been removed.
Prominent among those whose security has been withdrawn include
Akali leader Bikram Majithia
former AAP state president Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi
singer Jazzy B
Senior Advocate General Anmol Ratan Sidhu, Punjab & Haryana High Court
Gobind Singh Longowal, president, SGPC
Kirpal Singh Badungar, ex-president SGPC
former minister Inderjit Singh Zira
Cong leader Narendra Singh Bhalena
Shiv Sena leaders Satpal Gosain, Shital Kuma Vij, Harish Singla, Kamlesh Bhardwaj
Khushbaj Singh Jatana from Talwandi Sabo
former Youth Congress president Vikram Chaudhary
Around 50 Shiv Sena leaders, the maximum in any category, have lost their security cover. Many leaders had two policemen each assigned to a single person. Two constables each have been withdrawn from SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal and former president Kirpal Singh Badungar. Congress leaders who have lost one gunmen each are former minister Inderjit Singh Zira, Khushbaj Singh Jatana from Talwandi Sabo and former Youth Congress president Vikram Chaudhary.
As per orders issued by ADGP (Security) Gaurav Yadav on July 8, the gunmen given to 125 such persons have been withdrawn and ordered for law and order duty in different districts. The Punjab Police has recently announced a new transfer policy for the rank of inspector and below. No police officer would be posted in the home subdivision, as per the new rules. The minimum tenure for the Station House Officers has been fixed at minimum one year . Inspectors or sub-Inspectors would not be allowed to work for more than eight years in a district and the lower ranks cannot work in the same place for more than 12 years. The orders said the maximum tenure of a sub-inspector and inspector as an SHO would be three years only after the recommendation of the SSP or Commissioner concerned.
