Govt cuts down VIP security

AMARINDER TRIMMED HIS OWN SECURITY FROM 1,392 TO 1,016 MEN AND ALSO ORDERED WITHDRAWAL OF 1,500 MORE COPS FROM OTHER CATEGORIES

CHANDIGARH:The Punjab government on Friday cut down on VIP security, including that of the chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, by 2,000 personnel and decided to deploy them to ensure better policing and improve the law-and-order situation in the state.

The CM cut down his own security from 1,392 to 1,016 men and also ordered withdrawal of 1,500 more cops from other categories.

The decision was taken by the CM during a security review meeting held in the presence of principal chief secretary Suresh Kumar, director general of police (DGP) Suresh Arora and ADGP (intelligence) Dinkar Gupta.

An official spokesperson said the move was aimed at creating infrastructure for better policing by diverting precious resources to the more important and essential task of ensuring law and order in the state. The CM has made it clear that he does not want any security beyond bare necessity.

With a view to check the unbridled proliferation of arms in the hands of criminals and gangsters, the CM has also directed the police to review the arms and ammunition licences issued in the state.

Expressing concern at the threat posed to internal security as a result of the arms proliferation, which has led to several incidents of violation of law and order in Punjab recently, the CM also directed the district magistrates and police commissionerates to conduct a propriety audit of the arms licences issued after the notification of the Arms Rules, 2016, wef July 15, 2016, to date.

The spokesperson said the move, aimed at ensuring strict compliance under the provisions of the Arms Act, 1959 and the Arms Rules, 2016, will help control the lawlessness prevailing in the state as a result of the armed gangs who had a free run under the erstwhile SAD-BJP regime.