Stop auction of police stations: Bajwa

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, December 23

Pradesh Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa has alleged that ruling party politicians are hand in glove with drug smugglers. Addressing mediapersons here yesterday, he said drugs would continue to be freely available in the state until the ruling party stopped “auctioning” police stations.

Bajwa was referring to the ED summons to Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia in the multi-crore Bhola drug racket in the state.

The Pradesh Congress chief claimed he had information that police stations across the state were being “auctioned” by ruling party MLAs and ministers.

“Till this is stopped, drugs will continue to flow freely into the state,” Bajwa said.

“A police officer pays anything between Rs 5 lakh to 7 lakh per month to be appointed Station House Officer (SHO). This money is paid to the local MLA or minister who then asks senior police officers to post the officer as SHO at a particular station.

“The SHO turns a blind eye to the activities of drug peddlers. Both the smugglers and consumers know that the police will not act against them. In this way the drug menace goes unchecked,” the Congress leader added.