Facing allegations of deteriorating law and order situation in the State with at least two high-profile killings since it took over the State reins, the Congress-led Punjab Government, among other things, on Friday made attempts to arrest the crime by giving its nod to a slew of measures.
In several significant police reforms and initiatives, the State Cabinet has decided to create a separate police wing for investigation, a special operations groups to counter and neutralise militant threats, besides attaching, seizing and forfeiting properties of drug offenders by enacting ‘Punjab Forfeiture of Illegally Acquired Property Act, 2017’.
Notably, the previous SAD-BJP Government had also set up a separate investigation wing in the State Police Department, and created a special operations group.
The Cabinet has approved the creation of a Special Operation Group (SOG) to check militant threat, with non-fiscal incentives for those personnel who join the new force.
The SOG will contain counter-action force and neutralise militant threats such as fidayeen attack, hostage situations and armed infiltration, said a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office.
The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, discussed the advantages of setting up the SOG, which would help respond effectively, adequately and in the least possible time to neutralise armed aggressors.
It will also minimise collateral damage in the form of loss of civilian lives and damage to the strategic assets of the country, working in close coordination with other state players like district police, civil authorities, Army, NSG, IB, and Intelligence Wing etc.
Triggered by the Gurdaspur and Pathankot fidayeen attacks, the need to create the SOG was felt by the state government on account of the inadequate training and lack of sophisticated units in the existing police units.
The SOG personnel would have world-class training and the highest degree of commitment to tackle armed threats and would function as the state’s premier and specialised response team.
With Intelligence reports suggesting plans by fidayeen groups to target the security and vital installations or establishment in the state, the SOG will operate to protect Punjab and its people.
Non-gazetted officers (NGOs) and officers shall have minimum tenure of five years in the SOG. After successful completion of the tenure of five years, NGOs and ORs of Punjab Armed Police and Indian Reserve Battalion/Commando would be posted in district cadres.
Separate police wing for investigation
To strengthen policing in the state and ensure proper probe of heinous cases of crime, the Cabinet has also approved creation of a separate police wing for investigation of cases.
The move, in line with the directives of various courts in this regard, will lead to the separation of law and order machinery from the investigation wing, with the state government creating specialised crime units in every district.
These units will be headed by an officer, not below the rank of Inspector, with an appropriate strength of officers and staff, for investigating such categories of specialized crime, as may be deemed appropriate.
The investigation staff shall ordinarily not be diverted for any other duties, except under exceptional circumstances, with the permission of the Inspector General of Police of the Range concerned, as per the amendments to Sections 36 of the Punjab Police Act 2007 approved by the Cabinet on Friday.
The decision constitutes a part of the series of reforms initiated by Chief Minister to infuse new energy in the police force and improve the law and order situation in the state, said the spokesperson.
Under the new system, separate Investigation Units (IUs) and Pairvi Units (PUs) have been envisaged up to the level of Police Stations. While the IUs would be solely dedicated to serious and heinous crimes to ensure that the investigation of such cases is completed in a time-bound manner, the Pairvi Units will ensure proper presentation and contesting of criminal cases before the trial courts.
The move is prompted by the need to keep the function of investigation separate from law and order duties so that investigation of heinous crimes, in particular, does not get hindered due any urgency in law and order duties. The move will also enable smooth collection of credible evidence by providing the IO with professional and high-level expertise in the same.
In addition, the Cabinet has given in-principle approval for restructuring of police ranges and zones, with details on staffing of the investigation wing and other modalities to be worked out by an Officers Committee, to be headed by the Chief Secretary.
Property attachment in NDPS convicts
Punjab Cabinet, by approving the enactment of the ‘Punjab Forfeiture of Illegally Acquired Property Act, 2017’, has empowered the officers to attach, seize or forfeit properties as part of the ongoing war against drugs initiated by the state government.
The proposed Act would enable them to crackdown on properties acquired through illicit trafficking of narcotics drugs, smuggling and trade of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act), 1985.
He said under the draft legislation, prepared in consultation with the state Director General of Police (DGP), the accused will not be able to alienate their property following the registration of the case under the NDPS Act.
Confiscation or forfeiture of the property will take place only after final conviction, he said.
It has been further clarified that property older than six years at the time of the registration of the case will not be attached or confiscated under the provisions of the new Act, he said.
The Act applies to every person who has been convicted of an offence punishable under the NDPS Act with imprisonment for a term of 10 years or more, and to every person in respect of whom an order of detention has been made under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 (46 of 1988), he said.
It further applies to every person who has been arrested or against whom a warrant or authorisation of arrest has been issued for the commission of an offence punishable under the NDPS Act 1985, with imprisonment for a term of ten years or more, he said.
Punjab victim, dependents compensation scheme approved
Punjab Cabinet also okayed ‘The Punjab Victim or their Dependents Compensation Scheme, 2017’ to compensate victims of crime, with a minimum compensation of Rs three lakh each to victims of acid attack.
While the Centre will provide one-time assistance of Rs 4.01 crore to crime victims and their dependants, the state will make budgetary provisions thereafter for the same.
Under the scheme notified by the Department of Home Affairs and Justice, the state government will allocate a separate budget every year to the Department of legal and legislative Affairs which will be the Nodal Department for regulating, administering and monitoring the scheme. It would also ensure release of appropriate amount to State legal Services Authority, which will further disburse the amount to District legal Services Authorities as per their requirements.
In compliance with the Supreme Court orders, the State Government would provide minimum compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to victims of acid attack. In case of death due to acid attack, the family will be provided assistance of Rs 5 lakh. In addition, the government will give 100 per cent medical reimbursement to a victim of acid attack, including medicine, food, bedding and plastic surgery or reconstructive surgery, if required, at government approved hospitals.
Compensation of Rs 3 lakh would be provided to a victim of rape and Rs 4 lakh in murder with rape case, Rs 2 lakh in case of physical abuse of minor, Rs 1 lakh for rehabilitation of victim of human trafficking, Rs 50,000 for sexual assault, Rs 2 lakh in case of death, Rs 2 lakh for permanent disability (80 percent or more), Rs 1 lakh for partial disability (40 to 80 per cent), Rs 2 lakh in case of burns affecting greater than 25 per cent of the body (excluding acid attack cases), Rs 50,000 loss of foetus and Rs 1.5 lakh for the victim of loss of fertility.
If the victim under 14 years of age, the compensation would be increased by 50 percent over the amount specified above.
Punjab to help youngsters abroad connect with their roots
Punjab Cabinet has approved a programme that aims at helping youngsters of Punjabi origin and living abroad to connect with their ancestral roots and glorious cultural heritage of Punjab.
Called ‘Connect with Your Roots’ (CYR), the programme will help young boys and girls of Punjabi origin whose parents, grandparents or great grandparents have settled abroad connect with their ancestral roots and culture.
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder had announced the programme - which will target youngsters between 16 and 22 years - during his recent visit to london. He will write to the ambassadors and high commissioners of various countries about the scheme to invite youngsters to join the programme.
launched by the NRIs Affairs Department, the programme is scheduled to begin on January 9, next - to coincide with the NRI Day. Each batch will comprise 15 youths.
In the long run, the programme would enhance the engagement of NRIs with Punjab, at the level of the youth, who could be a vital engine in the state’s progress.
law amended to boost crop diversification
Giving a boost to the government’s crop diversification efforts, the Punjab Cabinet has decided to bring guava, banana and vineyards farmers at par with orchard farmers in the matter of the maximum land size they are permitted to own or hold.
The Cabinet okayed an amendment to Section 3(8) of the Punjab land Reforms Act, 1972, to allow the three fruits also to be covered under the set of exemptions provided to orchard cultivators. It will provide a legal right to a farmer or tenant doing farming in these fruits to keep up to 20.5 hectares of land, as in the case of an orchard farmer.
Distillery and Excise bonded ware rules amended
To streamline the production at distilleries, the Cabinet has accepted a proposal for amending the Punjab Distillery Rules-1932 requiring licensee to install Flow Meters at a location specified by the Excise Commissioner for the purpose of monitoring the production and dispatch of Extra Neutral Alcohol or Rectified Spirit (RS).
The move to install Flow Meters in the production line would help streamline the production and stem any leakage from the distilleries so that the entire production is captured.
At present, there are 17 distilleries and 22 bottling plants across the state. All the distillers are producing Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA), which is the basic raw material for the manufacture of IMFl and Country liquor.
The distilleries are producing ENA either for captive consumption or for the sale to bottling plants situated both within and outside the state.
The Cabinet agreed that it was in the interest of the state that the entire production of ENA is captured so that there is no leakage of ENA, RS or DNS (De-natured Spirit) from the manufacturing units. The leakage of ENA can have very serious repercussions both in terms of revenue and health of the consumers. The Cabinet also approved an amendment to the Punjab Excise Bonded Ware Rules, 1957, to facilitate the licensee if he, for any reason, decides to shift his licensed premises to some other place.