Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on Tuesday morning conducted a surprise raid at the State Police Headquarters. To his surprise most of the senior officers, except Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence), were found absent.
Sukhbir, along with the State Home Secretary Jagpal Singh Sandhu, and his Principal Secretary PS Aujla, reached the police headquarters at 9:10 am, and stayed there for more than an hour.
Sources said some of the senior officers failed to report to work even after 11 am. Taking serious note of the state of affairs of the police department, Sukhbir has directed the Home Secretary to “seek explanations” from the absentee officers.
Warning the officials, Sukhbir has asked them to maintain discipline and report to work on time, else “get ready to face strict disciplinary action”.
“Security personnel posted at the headquarters were in for a surprise when the Deputy Chief Minister’s vehicle reached the main gate of the building at 9.10 am. Immediately after alighting from his vehicle, he directed the officials accompanying him to seize the entry register as well as close all the entry points to the building,” said Deputy Chief Minister’s media advisor Jangveer Singh.
As per the entry register, only ADGP (Intelligence) Hardeep Dhillon was in the building. During the check subsequently, it was found that six officers had come on time to the office, out of nearly 50 senior police officers who have their offices in the police headquarters.
While Sukhbir was conducting the surprise check at the police headquarters, the State Director General of Police Sumedh Singh Saini was conducting a meeting with representatives of Nurmahal sect at his residence. Though, he arrived soon after.
“Three senior police officers chose to enter the headquarter building from the rear entrance, which is used by the junior staff, to avoid the Deputy Chief Minister. They were reprimanded by the DGP and Sukhbir and asked to conduct themselves in an officer like manner in future,” said Jangveer.
As Sukhbir had taken a seat in front of the entrance, all officers arriving late were asked to wait in a room on the ground floor. later, Sukhbir addressed the “latecomers” making it clear that such lackadaisical attitude about office timings was “unacceptable”. He also warned them that strict disciplinary action would be taken against anyone found arriving late to office in future.
Sukhbir also held meeting in the DGP’s office, asking the State police chief to call for an explanation from all those who arrived late to office.
Also taking serious note of the fact that some police officers did not report to work even till 11 am, Sukhbir directed the Home Secretary to conduct an enquiry within 48 hours to ascertain why these police officers had played truant despite not taking leave from office.
Senior officers who failed to report to work, includes DGP Human Resource Development SK Sharma, ADGP Policy and Rules Mohammad Mustafa, IG Traffic RPS Brar, IG Community Policing Anita Punj, IG Information Technology KJS Pannu, IG Modernisation Shashi Prabha, besides six SPs and AIGs.
Sukhbir has also asked the State police chief to ensure punctual attendance of all officers at the headquarters as well as in the field.
He directed that all Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to remain present in their offices at 9 am sharp so that they could do the required administrative duties and also redress the grievances of the people promptly.
Of late, Sukhbir had cautioned the State police department that any kind of indiscipline would not be tolerated. His words of caution came after Sukhbir, who also holds Home portfolio, conducted a surprise check at Mohali’s Phase-I police station late at night finding just munshi present with no senior officer.
Sukhbir had then maintained that in case any official is found absent from the police station during duty hours the next time, concerned district police chief would be held responsible.
After that, he had warned all the police officials that they should perform their duties with utmost devotion, else “strict action would be initiated against them”.