Ever since PM Narendra Modi and his convoy narrowly escaped a major security crisis on Wednesday en route Punjab’s Ferozepur, Charanjit Singh Channi led Punjab Government has found itself in the middle of a storm. Well, the ‘kudrati’ events that took place during PM Modi’s security breach, indicated a conspiracy and Channi’s involvement in it. Though it is the Punjab Government that needs to be taught a lesson, for now, one can heave a sigh of relief as the state’s DGP along with SSP of Ferozepur have been thrown out of their post.
Action against Punjab DGP and Ferozepur SSP
A 1987-batch IPS officer Viresh Kumar Bhawra replaced 1986-batch IPS officer S Chattopadhyaya as the state DGP after the latter landed in a controversy over PM Modi’s security breach. Moreover, Ferozepur SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans has also been shifted and Narindera Bhargava replaced him for the same reasons.
According to reports, “On Friday, Chattopadhyaya, along with 13 other officers, was issued a show-cause notice by the home ministry for the major security lapse”.
An order released by the state government read, “On the consideration of the panel received from the UPSC, the Punjab governor is pleased to appoint Viresh Kumar Bhawra, IPS as director general of police, Punjab (Head of Police Force).”
“His term shall be for a minimum period of two years from the date of assumption of office in pursuance of the Supreme Court orders,” it added.
Immediately after his appointment on Saturday, Bhawra transferred 47 deputy superintendents of police.
For the unversed, Ferozepur is at the centre of controversy over lapses in PM Narendra Modi’s security earlier this week.
PM Modi’s security breach
There are indications that the events that unfolded on Wednesday were nothing short of a sabotage attempt. Kanchan Gupta revealed, “Normally during a PM visit, the CM, Chief Secretary and DGP receive the PM and accompany him. Today none of the 3 was there. In fact, cars reserved for CS and DGP were part of PM’s cavalcade. Did the top officers of #Punjab have an inkling of what was going to happen?”
Read more: Punjab CM Channi seems to have a personal hand in PM Modi’s security breach
Channi, in the immediate aftermath of the episode, gave conflicting statements about the events – implying he was in on the conspiracy. He addressed the media and claimed that the security gaffe was natural (Kudrati).
Read more: What happened to PM Modi in Punjab was not a security lapse, it was a planned assassination attempt
However, a few hours later, Channi changed his version and stated that there was no security breach. To shield his government’s inadequacy and involvement in the incident, Channi shifted the entire blame on PM Modi and the centre.
Moreover, 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 to the police’s involvement.
The opposition along with the anti-Modi brigade revealed their despicable instance when they cheered the assassination attempt on the Prime Minister of their own nation. However, the recent development to unseat Punjab DGP and Ferozepur SSP, is a tight slap in their faces. But, is it enough? No. The Punjab Government needs to pay the price for its actions and there must be investigations to unveil the truth behind the major security lapse.