Conducting another review of security personnel, Punjab Government on Wednesday pruned
the security cover of eight politicians, including former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal,
former Deputy Chief Minister OP Soni, former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
In all, 127 Punjab police cops, posted to protect the “VIPs”, would be called back, besides
withdrawing nine vehicles from the security cover provided to these leaders from the Congress
and the Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD).
After coming to power in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) has pruned security cover of
many politicians.
Days after the government asked to vacate the government accommodation, the senior Congress
leader Bhattal is now left with only eight cops in the Y-category. As many as 36 cops and three
vehicles have been withdrawn from her security cover.
Similarly, former Deputy Chief Minister Soni, who had 37 cops and one vehicle in Z-category, is
now left with 18 cops as per norm for former deputy Chief Minister though he does not have any
specific threat.
As many as 18 cops and one vehicle have been withdrawn from the security cover of former
Cabinet Minister and Congress leader Vijay Inder Singla. Not having any threat, Singla has been
given security cover of four cops.
Bathinda MP and SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s security cover has also been pruned and
two cops and one vehicle have been withdrawn from her. She is now left with 11 cops.
Former Lok Sabha MP and former Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar was also found
having no threat to his life and from 14 cops and one vehicle earlier, he is now left with two
cops.
Former Congress MLA Parminder Singh Pinky was earlier having 28 cops and one vehicle and
since there is no specific threat to him, 26 cops and the vehicle have been withdrawn.
Punjab police have also withdrawn 11 cops and a vehicle from the security of former Congress
MLA Navtej Singh Cheema, who is now left with two cops as per norm.
However, the state police have withdrawn all 11 cops and one vehicle from former Congress
MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon after analysing that there is no specific threat to him.
The state government had earlier, in a letter, issued orders to reduce the security cover of 184
former ministers, ex-MLAs and senior leaders. The letter, dated April 20, was sent to senior
police officers, including Police Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police. Prominent
among those who lost their security cover are former ministers Surjit Kumar Rakhra, Sucha
Singh Chottepur, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Madan Mohan Mittal, Tota Singh, and
Gulzar Singh Ranike.
Family of former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi, Raninder — son of former Chief Minister
Capt Amarinder Singh, Parneet Kaur — wife of former Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon,
Arjun Badal — son of former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal had to also let go of their
security cover.
After the withdrawal of the security of senior politicians, over 403 police personnel were
relieved from their security duty and returned to their original police stations.
Robbers decamp with about Rs 20 lakh from SBI ATM in Karnal
PNS Chandigarh
Robbers decamped with Rs 20.76 lakh after uprooting an ATM of the State Bank of India near
Namastey Chowk, Karnal in the wee hours of Wednesday. The robbers entered the ATM booth
and fiddled with the CCTV cameras before committing the crime, said Karnal police.
While talking to ‘The Pioneer’ over the phone, SP Ganga Ram Punia said that four teams have
been formed and they are working on several angles to solve the case. He said that after being
informed, a team of police reached the spot and started investigating the matter. Footage of
CCTV cameras installed in the neighbourhood areas was being scanned by the team members
to identify the criminals. Efforts are underway to nab the criminals, SP added.
Another Police officer said that the robbery took place between 3 am and 4 am on Wednesday.
The incident came to light at around 9 am when the bank staff reported for work. The ATM
booth is situated adjacent to the local branch office, Rohtas Main Bazar, Karnal.