MLAs upset on proposed police sub-division changes

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 10

With the new government asking police heads in all districts to submit ideas and suggestions for making the proposed changes in the police sub-divisions to remove the total synchronisation with the legislative Assembly constituencies, the Congress MLAs in the region are clearly a bit nervous.

The SSPs and Police Commissioners who had been asked last week to send the new proposals of their areas have even begun sending the details. As of now, police officials in the districts do not have any clarity on whether the nomenclature of the new DSP areas would be changed or if it could even lead to a cut or an increase in the number of the police sub-divisions in comparison to the present number of 117.

But the MLAs are already getting somewhat disturbed and have been saying it all openly. The ongoing tussle between minister Rana Gurjit Singh, who represents Kapurthala, and Sultanpur Lodhi MLA Navtej Cheema is known to all. Since their constituencies meet at several points and there is a proposal to shift about 16 villages of Sultanpur Lodhi to Kapurthala police sub-division, Cheema seemed to be a bit upset, “This will definitely undermine my power in that part of the area in terms of police matters. It will also add to the confusion of the villagers who would be shuttling between two of us to get their works done. Some proper way has to be found out.”

Likewise, Jalandhar Central MLA Rajinder Beri said, “The boundary of my constituency touches some parts of Jalandhar Cantonment, Jalandhar North and even Jalandhar West areas. If some police sub-division area of my constituency goes into that of a neighbouring MLA, my influence in that area will definitely get affected. My voters will be meeting other MLA more often. As of now, I am not even aware as to how things are being done.”

Akali MLA from Adampur and chief whip of the party Pawan Tinu said, “The halqa changes done during our tenure were, of course, done with some logical thinking and thte involvement of local MLAs. Now when I am an MLA, I should be consulted for the changes rather than the Congress leaders in the area who have lost against me.”

Amneet Kondal, ADCP headquarters, Jalandhar Commissionerate, said, “The matter is at a very initial stage. We have just been asked to report as to what was the old pattern prevailing before halqa-wise changes. We are preparing a report on the current area falling under a police station while giving our new proposals alongside. For this, we are in no way consulting the Congress MLAs concerned and will be sending the reports directly.”