CHANDIGARE, India: According to reliable sources, C.B.I. has asked the Chandigarh and Punjab police among other personnel on deputation A.S.I’s head constable posted at substations. The C.B.I. has been given extensive power under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Rules to deal with the cases on the border belt covering about over a hundred sections of LP.C. and Cr P.C. A senior police officer said that this meant further erosion in the authority of the Punjab police. The C.B.I. would now be able to handle direct cases relating to acts of terrorism and smuggling. Under this new setup, C.B.I will be able to screen any case that it wishes to take itself for investigation. The C.B.I has been given power to check infiltration of Pakistanis and check terrorist links across the border. The C.R.P.F. and the B.S.F. have already been given extensive powers independent of Punjab police in Gurdaspur and Amritsar Districts, the several police officers including the Director General are from the outside of the State cadre. Allegations over the past one year that the Punjab police personnel mixed up with the extremists may have counted with the Centre to give more power to the CBI. It is believed that Bhai Mohkam Singh, the Chief of Damdami Taksal, revealed during interrogation the names of certain police officers who were sympathetic towards them. The policeman who goes on deputation will get special border duty allowances.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 27, 1986
