Says zero tolerance towards corruption, AIG Uppal suspended...

With a view to strengthen the state police infrastructure, Director General of Police, Punjab Mr. Suresh Arora today gave directions to release Rs. 2.5 crore from Saanjh funds to the border police districts which was sanctioned by the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh for construction/renovating of buildings of police station /barracks and procurement of instruments in border areas.

Aiming to eradicate drug abuse and illicit trafficking in Punjab, DGP said that in continuation of special campaign launched by Chief Minister, the Punjab government has launched a three pronged strategy based on enforcement, de-addiction and prevention (EDP) for comprehensive action against use of drugs.

This was disclosed by Mr. Arora, while presiding over a meeting at Gurdaspur today in which DGP STF, Punjab Mohammad Mustafa, ADGP Law & Order, Ishwar Singh, IGP STF, R.K Jaiswal, IGP Border Range, Amritsar, Surinderpal Singh Parmar, SSP Pathankot, Vivek Sheel Soni, SSP Gurdaspur, Swarndeep Singh, SSP Batala, Opinderjit Singh Ghuman and all gazetted officers/SHO's of Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Batala districts were also present.

He briefed that district Police and STF are the wings of the Punjab Police who have to collectively eradicate the menace of drugs, arrest the drug smugglers and also to ensure maximum punishments in the cases registered against them. "The property made through illegal means by these smugglers should also be confiscated as per provision of law", he stressed.

Reiterating zero tolerance against drugs and corruption, he warned that those involved in exploiting and ruining the youth and indulging in malpractices would not be spared at any cost. Mr Arora said AIG crime Randhir Singh Uppal has been placed under suspended for his involvement in a criminal case on account of moral turpitude and absence of duty. He also asked all the district police officers to prepare lists of POs, smugglers and offenders so as to put them on radar.

He directed all the officers were to conduct regular seminars on drug related issues in the educational institutes, mohallas and in the villages specifically emphasizing on youths apprising them about the ill effects of drugs so that a healthy environment could be created in the society. "New sports clubs should also be opened and youths of the area are motivated to participate in the games to wean away them not to indulge in drugs", he emphasized.

Keeping in view the earlier terrorist strikes/intrusion of the terrorists through the Pakistan border, Punjab Police has made proper security arrangements near the international boundary to check any untoward incident relating to terrorist activities. Besides, all out efforts should be made to arrest the gangsters who are still at large and close watch being maintained on the activities of the hideouts/associates of the gangsters.

DGP directed all the police officers to perform their duty with honesty and responsibility to improve the image of Punjab Police department in the public and useful information/possible help from the public could be sought to eradicate the menace of drugs from the society.