CHANDIGARH: To combat the network of gangsters operating in the state, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday directed DGP Punjab VK Bhawra to set up a full-fledged Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) headed by an ADGP rank officer.
At a meeting with commissioners (CPs), senior superintendents (SSPs) and other police officers, Mann emphasised the need for eradication of organised crime and ensuring law and order in the state in order to restore people's confidence in the police machinery.
He assured that adequate funds will be made available to the police force for sufficient manpower and latest equipment to break the unholy nexus “which has already spread its wings in drug trade and Kabaddi world.”
Earlier, former chief minister Amarinder Singh had also set up Punjab Police’s Organised Crime Control Unit (OCCU) to deal with the criminal gangs in the state.
Mann said that AGTF would have integrated collection of intelligence, manning and execution of operations, registrations of FIRs, investigation and prosecution on the lines of similar such specialized units in the country. Directing the CPs and SSPs to make coordinated efforts against organised crimes, Mann said that new police stations with state-wide jurisdiction over organised crime would be soon notified with a sole motive to allay the fear from the minds of general public about the terror unleashed by the gangsters.
The chief minister said he had already instructed the jails department to keep strict vigil over the activities of gangsters lodged in various jails in the state and no laxity would be tolerated in this regard.
Sharing his personal experience to bring down the crime rate drastically in Sangrur district, Mann said as MP he took an initiative to install Wi-Fi CCTV cameras connected with the local police stations in the major towns of the district from his MPLAD Fund. “Hi-resolution cameras were installed under this project at a nominal cost which enabled round the clock surveillance and instilled a feeling of security amongst the general public,” he said.
Mann also asked all the police officers posted in field as well as headquarters to maintain punctuality and discipline. Earlier welcoming the Chief Minister, DGP Bhawra assured that the entire police force would perform its duties with utmost dedication.
Move to check fatal accidents
Meanwhile, expressing concern over fatal road accidents, Mann said that over 5500 lives are snuffed out due to these accidents besides nearly 1.5 lakh people sustain injuries on this count. He asked the DGP to come out with a comprehensive proposal to make a separate wing of highway patrolling police dedicated to effectively control the traffic snarls besides ensuring timely medical aid to the accident victims so as to save the human lives. He added that 136 black spots were identified after the demise of renowned TV personality Jaspal Bhatti in a road accident but unfortunately nothing concrete was done on the ground. He also underlined the need to keep a first aid kit in every police vehicle so that any injured on the road could be given medical assistance.
Upgrading policing in state
Referring to the various demands of police department raised by the Special DGP Intelligence Prabodh Kumar to face the emerging challenges of law and order especially in wake of cybercrimes during his brief presentation, chief secretary Anirudh Tewari asked the DGP Bhawra to send a complete proposal to Finance Department so that the requisite budgetary allocation could be made in the state annual budget.
