Chandigarh: The Punjab government is set to take action in Prime Minister Narendra Modi security breach incident during his rally in Ferozepur on January 5, 2022, ahead of the Assembly elections.
On the basis of the report of the Justice Indu Malhotra Committee, which was formed on the orders of the Supreme Court, action can be taken against nine top police and administrative officers of the then Punjab government. The committee submitted the report six months ago to Punjab and indicted then-state Chief Secretary Anirudh Tewari, Police Chief S Chattopadhyaya, and other top officers for lapses.
Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua said that on the basis of the report, the officers who were negligent on duty were first noticed. The file has now been sent to CM Bhagwant Mann for further action.
Sensing the seriousness of the matter, the Punjab government is preparing to file a charge sheet against those who are negligent in the security of PM Modi.
PM Modi visited Punjab on January 5, 2022, before the Punjab Assembly elections held in February 2022. Due to bad weather, the Prime Minister’s convoy was sent from Bathinda to Ferozepur by road. When he was on his way to Hussainiwala from Bathinda airport, his convoy was stuck on a flyover at Piareana Village in Ferozepur for 20 minutes as farmers blocked the highway some distance away from there.
According to the Blue Book of the Union Home Ministry and the Special Protection Group (SPG), which guards the Prime Minister, the Punjab government was informed about the PM’s program and visit in advance. In such a situation, according to the rules, the state police should have kept the alternative route ready along with security.
In view of the emergency plan, the Punjab government was supposed to deploy additional security on the road but that did not happen.
After this security lapse, PM’s convoy decided to return to Bathinda airport. While going to Delhi from Bathinda airport, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to a report by news agency, asked the officers of Punjab present there told your CM that I was able to return alive.