Whenever a Prime Minister visits a state, the local police serves as formidable support to already air-tight security arrangements. But, in the case of Punjab, things turned out to be something different. Apparently, Punjab Police have been caught leaking information; side-by-side drinking tea with protestors.
Punjab Police under scanner
PM Modi’s security breach has raised various questions about forces handling administration in Punjab. While Chief Minister is shedding his responsibility, emerging reports reveal active involvement of Punjab’s full administrative machinery in aghast contravention of security arrangements.
Read more: Amarinder Singh destroys Channigovt’s claims on PM Modi’s security breach
According to a report by Republic TV, Punjab Police had leaked PM Modi’s route to protestors. Citing, Surjit Singh Phool, a prominent leader of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) the report reveals that, he has confessed about the police’s involvement. It is pertinent to note that BKU was the main force in the protests which stopped PM Modi’s caravan.
Phool said “At 12 PM, police told us to leave saying PM Modi is going to come (via road). We thought police were lying in an attempt to allow the BJP buses to leave via the main road. When PM Modi’s cavalcade arrived over 2000 people – farmers and BJP workers had gathered there and his cavalcade waited from 10-15 mins on the flyover.”
Police and protestors were drinking Tea
Meanwhile, Punjab Police was very casually handling the responsibility of clearing the roads for PM Modi’s convoys. What could be loosely termed as Punjab Police’s collusion with peace disruptors, police was seen enjoying cold winter tea with them. Apparently, protestors drinking tea with police were the same ones who had blocked the road; forcing PM Modi to return.
Various other locals have exposed the police’s involvement in security arrangements. Eye-witnesses’ statements are going viral on social media. These eye-witnesses include concerned citizens as well as protestors.
So-called ‘protestor’ says they knew PM Modi would be passing this way.
Since #PunjabPolice alone knew of route, this video answers key questions:
1. Who leaked secret info?
2. Why protestors were allowed to come in dangerously close proximity to PM?pic.twitter.com/h4aXAMHDl3— Kanchan Gupta (Hindu Bengali Refugee)🇮🇳 (@KanchanGupta) January 5, 2022
#PMSecurityBreach | Flyover eyewitness claims agitators destroyed buses and attacked BJP workers; says 'allowing PM to be stuck in such a situation reeks of conspiracy'https://t.co/oefJxIhn1D pic.twitter.com/esiVSWAzUl
— Republic (@republic) January 5, 2022
Arrangements were loose from the top-level itself
Not just on the junior level, even senior-level law-enforcement officials did not prioritise the visit of the all-important Prime Minister. DGP’s absence in PM Modi’s convoy has become a point of concern for security experts. Apparently, it’s a protocol that whenever PM visits any state; Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, and DGP receive and more often than not accompany him.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has denied Channi’s claim that state administration had no idea about PM’s route. Laying out full details of Punjab Police’s approach, MHA issued a statement which read, “The PM’s schedule and travel plan were communicated well in advance to Punjab Government. As per procedure, they have to make necessary arrangements for logistics, security as well as keep a contingency plan ready. Also in view of the contingency plan, the Punjab Government has to deploy additional security to secure any movement by road, which were clearly not deployed”
On Wednesday, 5 January(2022), Prime Minister landed at Bathinda. He was supposed to proceed to the national martyrs’ memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter. However, due to rain and poor visibility, PM Modi waited for around 20 minutes for the weather to clear. But around 30 km from the memorial in Hussainiwala, when Modi’s convoy reached a flyover, it was found that the road was blocked by some protesters.
Read more: What happened to PM Modi in Punjab was not a security lapse, it was a planned assassination attempt
Questions about the intentions of Police
The way Punjab Police acted raises a lot of questions about their intentions. When Prime Minister visits a site, his Special Protection Group (SPG) is in close contact with the local police. While SPG handles the immediate surroundings of PM, it’s the police’s responsibility to clean off any hurdle which could possibly hamper his security. The route’s information is available only with SPG and local police (through state government).
Read more: Dear PM Modi, it’s time to exercise your powers. NOW!
When a Police Personnel takes his/her oath, it’s about defending the safety and integrity of the nation. No matter what your political inclinations are, if you are wearing that uniform, you have to defend the person holding a constitutional post. Political differences or local loyalty should not disrupt the duty! Period.