A Supreme Court-appointed committee to probe the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab in January has found that the Ferozepur SSP failed to discharge his duty though sufficient force was available.
The committee headed by former judge Indu Malhotra also told the top court that there should be an oversight committee for periodic revision and update of “Blue Book” and sensitisation courses for police officers engaged in security of the Prime Minister.
The five-member panel also told the Supreme Court that there was sufficient time with the SSP after then Punjab ADGP G Nageshwar Rao informed him that the Prime Minister will be taking the contingency route and that he failed to take action on his instruction.
The top court said it will send the report to the Government for appropriate action.
“Ferozepur SSP Avneet Hans failed to discharge his responsibility to maintain law and order or take steps to deploy forces to secure the route despite knowledge that there were large hostile groups on the route. He failed to do this even though sufficient force was available and even though he was informed two hours before that the Prime Minister will enter that route,” the bench headed by Chief Justice NV Ramana and also comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli said on Thursday while reading from the committee’s report.
Continued on Page 2
SC-picked panel indicts SSP for PM’s Punjab security breach
The committee has also identified some remedial measures to strengthen the safety and security of the Prime Minister while on tour. On January 5, Modi’s convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by protesters in Ferozepur after which he returned from Punjab without attending any event, including a rally.
Reacting to the SC findings, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said that lapses in the Prime Minister’s security cannot be dismissed and questioned why then Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, the DGP and the chief secretary did not receive the Prime Minister.
“Spot where his convoy stopped was in the middle of the bridge, only 100m away from protestors, only 10 km away from Pakistan. Anything could have happened. CM was not available even on call. PM stood there for 20 minutes but even 2 minutes were enough for anything to happen,” Thakur said.
“This gives rise to questions. Who gave the protestors knowledge of the PM’s route? Who was SSP speaking with repeatedly on call? Who was he taking instructions from?” he said.
He attacked the Congress saying the lapse could have also created a catastrophic situation.
“After all, at whose behest was Congress doing all this? The Congress runs at the behest of one family (the Gandhi family). Former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi Ji should tell on whose behest the PM’s security lapsed,” said the Minister.