CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Harcharan Singh Brar, said that the state government would entrust the inquiry into the security lapse in the Beant Singh assassination to a Central agency.
Addressing a news conference, after reviewing the law and order situation at a high level meeting attended by the senior officers from headquarters and field officers here, he said the matter had been discussed at the highest level at the Center but the state government had not so far written to the Center in this regard.
He said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had gone into only the murder part without touching other aspects. At the same time, he said the Slate government would not hesitate in ordering a judicial inquiry if need arises.
The Congress dissidents have submitted a memorandum to the Governor demanding a judicial inquiry into the Beant Singh assassination to go into the deeper conspiracy.
He said the proposal to set up a state human rights commission was under the consideration of the state government. Referring to 200 TADA detainees, he said that every case would be considered on merit.
He said that the situation in the state ‘was peaceful and the government would maintain law and order at all Costs.
He made it clear that the state government would not extend financial assistance to the police officials who are facing court cases and they would have to defend themselves, When asked whether any steps were being initiated in the wake of indictment of a number of police officials by the courts, he said, “every force required cleaning up.”
The Director General of Police, Mr.0.P. Sharma, said that the meeting identified the priority areas and at the top was militancy, as forces of disruption were active with foreign backing. The nature and gravity of threat and the counter strategy were also discussed, There was*also the problem of subversion.
The field officers were sensitized about the threats to the security environment in the state and other parts of the country through the machinations of the neighboring country.
Concern was also expressed about the mounting threat from narco militancy, being encouraged from across the border in a big way. Mr, Sharma said that. A coordinated strategy along with the Central agencies would be pursued; the planning for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections also came under discussion. Proper attention would be paid to area security control of law and order and anti-militant operations before the elections; it was decided to constitute an election cell under an Additional Director General of Police.
Mr, Sharma said that the meeting decided to provide social content to the policing in Punjab. It was decided to set up a cell to deal with the problems of NRIs visiting Punjab, relating to the police, the desirability of the police actively helping in implementing the environmental laws was also discussed.
Special emphasis was laid in the meeting on enforcing accountability at the level of police stations in preventing crime and improving the response and attitude of police towards the public.
On the organizational front, it was decided to’ constitute 9 policy and planning nucleus comprising senior officers to deal with the issue relating to the key areas of policing, with the assistance of specially constituted ‘apex bodies to deliberate on specific issues relating to training, welfare, operational strategy and internal reforms.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 7, 1996
