CHANDIGARH: In order to ensure free, fair and peaceful forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in the border state, Special Director General of Police (Spl DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla on Wednesday said that 80 per cent police force is being mobilised and at least 225 more companies of Central Forces will be arriving soon in the state to instil confidence among the general public as well as to dominate sensitive and hyper-sensitive areas. Notably, 25 companies of Central Forces have already been deployed in the state.
The Special DGP was on a whirlwind tour of Amritsar and Jalandhar to hold Range-level meetings with Border Range IGP/DIG, CPs, and SSPs of both the ranges to review the security arrangements and take stock of preparations for General Parliamentary Elections-2024. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Border Range Rakesh Kumar Kaushal and Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar were present in the Amritsar meeting, while, the meeting of Jalandhar range was attended by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jalandhar range S Boopathi and CP Jalandhar Swapan Sharma.
Emphasising on the need to build a positive environment in the state, Spl DGP Arpit Shukla directed all the police officers to do professional policing and not let anyone to disturb the hard-earned peace and harmony in the state.
He ordered officers to intensify the checking of vehicles, especially commercial vehicles, entering and exiting the state to check the influx of narcotics and illicit liquor. He also directed all the officers to make special efforts to nab accused persons involved in heinous crimes, drug smuggling and bootlegging, besides, expediting the investigation and prosecution of cases of election-related offences.
Notably, Punjab Police have recovered Rs 5.45 crores unaccounted cash, 11.49 lakh litres liquor and 99.62 Kg drugs since the inception of the Model Code of Conduct.
Meanwhile, the special DGP also apprised officers about the norms for deployment of forces at normal polling locations, and critical and vulnerable polling locations, which will be provided CAPF forces in addition to Pu