MAKES
TOP ADMINISTRATIVE, POLICE OFFICIALS DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR FAILURE
Chandigarh,
March 20-
Adopting
a zero-tolerance policy against drugs and corruption, Chief Minister Captain
Amarinder Singh has pinned the responsibility of maintaining a corruption,
drugs and crime free society on the SPs and DCs in the state, directing them to
go after the big fish among drug peddlers, gangsters and other criminals..
Two
days after his council of ministers decided to come down heavily on drugs and
other mafias, as well as corruption, in the state, Chief Minister Captain
Amarinder Singh made it clear to the district and police officials that his
government would follow a zero tolerance policy against drugs, corruption,
mafia and crime. Chairing his first meeting with the officials after taking
over the reins of Punjab’s governance, his warned against any laxity on this
count.
The
government would hold top officers of the district administration directly
accountable for any cases of corruption, illegal mining, illegal transport,
registration of false cases, non-registration of FIRs, traffic violations,
street crimes and bootlegging, the chief minister told the meeting, taking a
no-nonsense approach.
The
chief minister directed the officers to lead from the front and carry out
raids/measures under their personal supervision to eliminate drug and mining
mafias within the next four weeks.
Captain
Amarinder sent out a strong warning to the police on the issue of drugs, saying
that Police Commissioners, Senior Superintendents of Police, Sub-Divisional
Police Officers (DSP Sub-Division) and SHOs would be held directly accountable
for supply and sale of drugs in their jurisdiction. He said he was personally
aware of complaints of corruption against field officers of various ranks,
including DSP and SHOs, in handling of drug cases in the past, which is
non-pardonable. He would ensure swift and severe punishment if any such case
came to his notice in the future, he warned.
Reiterating
his commitment to the elimination of drug mafia and drug control as his
government’s first priority, the chief minister said the government has a zero
tolerance policy for drugs smugglers/suppliers/traders/
Identifying
prevention of terrorist crime as another key priority of his government,
Captain Amarinder directed all CPs and SSPs to make all-out efforts to trace
previous cases of terrorist crime, such as the Maur bomb blast (31st
January), and the killings of leaders of the RSS and other organizations/sects
in Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Khanna.
Emphasising
his government’s full commitment to the maintenance of communal harmony in the
state, and to prevent any sacrilege in any place, the chief minister said DCs
and CPs/SPs would be held responsible for any such incidents in their
respective areas. He directed the officials to ensure immediate installation of
CCTV cameras through community participation and engagement, and custody
management of sacred religious books where no CCTV cameras are installed.
He
further directed the officers to take all measures for the prevention of
organized crimes by criminal gangs active in the state, directing them to crack
down on such gangs in a big way, without delay.
Referring
to the false cases and FIRs registered under the previous regime, Captain
Amarinder said while the Commission of Enquiry which the cabinet had decided to
establish would do its work, he expected the officers to ensure that there is
no registration of false cases and free and fair registration of cases is
ensured. While there would be no vendetta, such things must end immediately, he
asserted.
