Chandigarh: The Punjab Government has objected to the notification by the Central Bureau of Investigation to investigate certain types of crimes within 15 km. of the area of the state bordering Pakistan. The C.B.I which was in the process of posting its task force to the border belt of Punjab has reportedly stayed the move for the time being. The Union Government had sanctioned one post of D.LG. two S.P’s and about 225 other personnel in the C.B.I for detecting border crime in Punjab and Rajasthan.
Interestingly, the state government had consented during the President rule in Punjab to the make to authorize the C.B.I to investigate the border crimes detected by the Border Security Force. C.B.I’s domain stretch to such crimes as were related to alleged “terrorist” activities, cases of smuggling and espionage.
The Union Government had issued notification in September last. However, soon after the Akali Government took over, it would not consent to the C.B.I investigating the border crimes, as law and order was a State subject. It also stated that the state machinery will be able to look after the border crime and the latest movement will only duplicate the state police’s effort and result in inconvenience. It also said that Union Government has again written to the Punjab Government that the move to authorize C.B.I to handle crime on the border cannot anyway disturb the present situation. The C.B.I will only deal with specific crimes. The whole situation is likely to be reviewed according to our sources.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 20, 1985
