Home dept to probe 947 tainted cops

ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY HOME ANURAG AGARWAL GIVES AFFIDAVIT TO THE HC SAYING THE DEPARTMENT WILL FORM A PANEL TO PROBE SUCH COPS

MOGA: The Punjab home affairs and justice department will form a committee to probe police functionaries, who continue to be in service despite being convicted and facing criminal charges, it has submitted before the Punjab and Haryana high court in an affidavit. Additional chief secretary, home, Anurag Agarwal, had submitted the affidavit on February 1.

“The department of home affairs and justice has also decided to constitute a committee to look into all aspects of these issues and formulate a policy or a Standard Operating Procedure,” the affidavit adds. The next hearing in the case is on February 11.

The department has filed several affidavits before the court in connection with plea of Moga resident Surjit Singh, who had filed a plea against his dismissal from service, due to pending First Information Report (FIR) under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) and the Arms Act.

As per these affidavits, at least 107 convicted cops, including SPs, DSPs, inspectors, and 840 facing serious criminal charges are still serving in the

Punjab Police. The affidavits also reveal of these 840 cops, 149 are facing charges of corruption; 72 face NDPS cases; 29 have been booked under charges of rapes; 29 are facing investigation for domestic violence and 18 have been charged with murder.

In December 2019, the home department had furnished incomplete details before the court, which had then directed the department to file an additional affidavit. On January 15, the court had directed the DGP to give details.

For the lapse of incomplete details, Agarwal had informed the court that the offices of Faridkot Range IGP and Tarn Taran SSP had furnished incomplete information to the department.

Therefore, a departmental inquiry for major punishment has been initiated against the dealing hands.