Beacons gone, security cover withdrawn

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 22

Within days of formation of the new government in the state, almost all senior rung officials of Jalandhar have removed beacons from their vehicles.

Almost all administrative and police officials, including Deputy Commissioner Varinder K Sharma, ADC Girish Dayalan, ADC Gurmeet Singh, SDMs and DCPs have removed the beacons. Having done so, the officials are somehow not fully convinced with the move.

An SDM said: “We removed the beacons since our senior officials did and told us to do so. But we do not justify the move. We sometimes have to go to violence-affected places. The beacons atop vehicles are an indication of the magisterial powers with us and goons tend to maintain a distance from us. Recently, a newly-appointed PCS official was looted on his way. Since we do not have a uniform, there is no other symbolic protection for us.”

The officials have also begun pruning the security cover of former ministers and MLAs. As many as 17 police personnel attached with former minister Bhagat Chunni Lal have been taken back. He reportedly still has four constables from PAP. Four of the eight security personnel with Jalandhar MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh too have been reportedly withdrawn.

Commissionerate officials said even as most of the political leaders had themselves surrendered their extra security, the bigger problem was getting back personnel from officials who have had postings in Jalandhar and have carried along men from here. There were at least two former police commissioners who have taken along over 10 police personnel from Jalandhar and were currently posted at other stations.

Officials not convinced

Almost all administrative and police officials, including Deputy Commissioner Varinder K Sharma, ADC Girish Dayalan, ADC Gurmeet Singh, SDMs and DCPs have removed the beacons. Having done so, the officials are somehow not fully convinced with the move.

The apathy

Commissionerate officials said even as most of the political leaders had themselves surrendered their extra security, the bigger problem was getting back personnel from officials who have had postings in Jalandhar and have carried along men from here. There were at least two former police commissioners who have taken along over 10 police personnel from Jalandhar and were currently posted at other stations.