‘I’m keen on delivering justice through policing’

Woman officer Amneet Kondal, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), Headquarters and Security, is serving on a key post in the Jalandhar Commissionerate. Kondal earlier worked as a probationary officer in a bank. She is the daughter of Mohinder Singh, retired IRS officer of the 1977 batch, who served as the Commissioner of Income Tax. Her mother was working as an AGM with the State Bank of India. She was recently awarded the prestigious DGP’s Commendation Disc by the Punjab Police DGP Suresh Arora. Kondal was awarded for her role as ACP (North) in tackling the law and order situation at Mai Heeran Gate last year during the communal clashes that were peacefully averted without the loss of any life or much property. Further, she got the honour for her streamlining of the administrative work as the ADCP (H) and organising free coaching camps for wards of police personnel and civilians for the upcoming Punjab Police recruitment exam. In an interaction with The Tribune correspondent Nikhil Bhardwaj, Amneet Kondal deliberated on various issues pertaining to the security measures being undertaken by the city police to tackle crime. She categorically said that she was always keen on delivering justice to the deserving.

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Why did you join the Punjab Police?

I joined the police to deliver justice to the deserving. Being a woman police officer, I also feel that I can do something good for the women fraternity.

Being in charge of security, what steps have been taken after the attack on RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja?

For precautionary purposes, four security personnel each have been deployed at the house of the RSS leader in Deep Nagar and at the RSS office Peeli Kothi. Otherwise, patrolling, especially the night one, has also been increased in the city to keep a tab on anti-social elements.

Some BJP leaders too demanded security after the attack on Gagneja. Who are they?

Yes, after receiving instructions from the police headquarters, Chandigarh, security guards have been provided to the wife of the MP Hoshiarpur Vijay Sampla, his kin and a son.

Is the security of VIPs being pruned?

It is a routine process, depending on the threat perception to an applicant. We proceed further in providing or removing security of anyone after receiving instruction from the headquarters only.

After the Pathankot attack, the city police put up bunkers, guard posts on the highways, with LMG weapons in place, presently no such things could be seen.

Depending on the alerts, we beef up security arrangements. Still the city police close all entry points of the city at night. Nakas at Reru, Paragpur, Wadala Chowk and other entry points during night keep a check on anti-social elements.

There is said to be a shortage of force at policestations.

No, there is no shortage of police force. Recently, we decided to put al teast 50 cops in each police station for better policing.

Against the posted strength of 3,070, the sanctioned strength is of 2,822 cops. Still staff of the ranks of the SI and ASI are less than the sanctioned limit.

From time to time, we send recommendations to the headquarters to fill the vacant posts.

During night, the presence of cops at police stations is limited.

Now an ACP-level officer has been deployed to regularly check the attendance at police stations and report if cops are found absent. This is being done on the instructions of the Police Commissioner Arpit Shukla for better policing.

Do you see any positive effects of WASPS teams?

We have as many as 14 Women Armed Special Protection Squad (WASPS). Two armed cops on Activa scooter patrol outside the schools and colleges to prevent eve-teasing incidents. Recently, members of WASPS were also given the CC1 certificate and cash awards by the CP for good work.

Your views on the Ankhein project.

We have already installed more than 400 CCTV cameras in the city at various localities in the city, while the installation of 600 more cameras is also in the pipeline. This project helped the police on many occasions in solving criminal cases, even heinous ones.