Punjab to cast away blue beacon policy

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 16

The Pathankot terror strike earlier this month has forced the Punjab government to “reconsider and reframe” its policy on allowing blue beacon lights atop vehicles.

From SAD halqa chiefs, former MLAs and police officers to children of politicians besides chairmen of NGOs and educational institutions, all have vehicles with blue beacons.

The private SUV of Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh was used by four terrorists on the night of December 31 to make their way through police check posts because it had a blue beacon. 

Agencies investigating the terror attack and the route taken by the terrorists to enter the Pathankot air base believe that the vehicle was neither stopped nor searched at any of the check points.     

The Punjab government’s policy, framed and notified in February 2014, allowed red light and a flasher for vehicles carrying the CM, Deputy CM, ministers, Governor, former Governors and CMs, High Court Judges, vice-chairman of the Planning Board and leader of the Opposition. Another 11 categories of VIPs are allowed to use the red beacon without a flasher.

However, this was not liked by the state’s high and mighty and a second notification was issued in May 2015, that allowed eight other categories of VIPs, among them Commissioners, Divisional Commissioners, DCs, SSPs, District and Sessions Sourt Judges, MPs, MLAs and Chief Parliamentary Secretaries to use amber beacons. 

A top official in the Transport Department said other “VIPs” excluded from these two lists had resorted to the use of the blue beacon. The only notification on the use of blue beacon issued in April 2006 allows Additional District Magistrates, SDMs, officers conferred with the powers of Magistrate, Station House Officers and police officers above the rank of DSP and top officers of the Transport, Excise and Food Supplies Department to use the beacon. 

Under a different notification, even escort vehicles of the CM, Deputy CM and other top dignitaries can use the blue beacon.

Sources said officials of the Traffic Police, Transport Department and Home Department met earlier this week to frame fresh guidelines on the use of the blue beacon.