A Committee which was formed to probe the security breach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Punjab earlier this year by the Supreme Court told that the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Ferozepur failed to discharge his duty to maintain law and order.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana ,Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli noted that the Committee had suggested remedial measures to be taken for safeguarding the Prime Minister’s security.
CJI Ramana while going through the report submitted by the Committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge, Justice Indu Malhotra, said
“There are remedial measures and safeguards needed for PM security. It is suggested that a oversight committee be constituted, training of police officers as per blue book, security planning for VVIP visits…”
Talking about the findings the CJI mentioned that the SSP Ferozepur had failed to discharge his duty for maintaining law and order. He failed to do this even though sufficient force was available and even though he was informed 2 hours before that PM Modi will enter that route.”
The Committee had suggested some remedial measures to strengthen the security of the Prime Minister before the CJI. The CJI said that “We will send the report to the government so that steps are taken.”
The Bench has also refused to provide a redacted copy of the Committee’s report to the police officers in question.
A plea was been heard in the Court on monitored probe into the alleged security breach that occurred when PM Modi’s convoy was stuck on a flyover at Hussainwala for twenty minutes after people protesting the now rescinded farm laws allegedly blocked the road.
The plea was filed by Lawyers Voice,an organization that sought suspension of Punjab Chief Secretary Anirudh Tewari and Director General of Police Sidharth Chattopadhyaya in the PM security breech.
The BJP and the Central government had blamed the Congress government in Punjab for the security lapse, although the State Government said it was PM last minute alteration in route that led to this situation.
The plea states that the Top court should take the incident seriouslyand direct the Bathinda District Judge to collect all the documents and materials on the deployment and movements of the Punjab Police during the PM’s visit.
The Supreme Court got a plea stating that the security lapse was intentional, and blamed the Congress government in Punjab for the same. It alleged complicity on the part of State authorities, given their presence at the blockage site.
In January this year, the Court had asked for the records of PMs visit where the lapse happened.
The officers of the Punjab Police,the Special Protection (SPG) as well as other Central and State agencies were asked by the bench to cooperate and provide necessary assistance to the Registrar General of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, who was directed to keep all records in his safe custody.
Justice Malhotra headed a committee to probe the matter.