Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service
Dera Baba Nanak, Oct 16
“The tiger is on the prowl.” This was the telephonic message a Gurdaspur-based police officer received moments after Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa conducted a midnight surprise check at the Punjab Police post in Jagdev Khurd village near the International Border.
6-hour inspection
- In the 6-hour long inspection, the Dy CM visited nearly a dozen places to ascertain the preparedness of the force
- He took stock of the ground situation at Jagdev Khurd, Gagomahal, Dera Baba Nanak and other villages
- He arrived at his native village Dharowali around 4 am
By the time he wound up his visit at Dera Baba Nanak in the wee hours, officials of the Batala, Amritsar (Rural) and Gurdaspur police districts were already dressed up in their uniform, fearing the Deputy CM could raid any place at any time.
In the six-hour-long operation, Randhawa visited nearly a dozen places to ascertain the preparedness of his force. He was accompanied by IG (Border) Mohnish Chawla, Amritsar (Rural) SSP Rakesh Kaushal and Batala SSP Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar.
Officers welcomed the Deputy CM’s initiative and added that “the morale of the force would be boosted, particularly in the wake of the recent drone flights initiated by Pakistan”. He took stock of the ground situation at Jagdev Khurd, Gagomahal, Dariya Moosa, Singpura, Ghonewala, Kalanaur and Dera Baba Nanak. He arrived at his native village of Dharowali around 4 am. “I visited the posts at a short notice because I wanted to see for myself how prepared is my force. I am satisfied with the work being put in by my officers, particularly the ones who are posted near the IB. I also listened to the grievances of the lower and middle-rung officials. Today’s visit is just an extended part of the night domination exercise already put in place by us,” Randhawa said. This was his first visit to border area posts ever since he was given the Home portfolio.
He criticised the central government for “needlessly meddling” in the affairs of Punjab by increasing the area of operation of the BSF. “The Centre is creating a controversy where none exists. When the Punjab Police are capable of doing their job, where is the need to deploy the BSF? Punjab is the sword arm of the nation and hence we are fully prepared for any eventuality. By asking the BSF to increase its area of influence, the central government is unnecessarily trying to instil fear among the residents,” Randhawa added.
Punjab Deputy CM ‘raids’ border posts at midnight
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