STF operates from makeshift set-ups

Deepkamal Kaur

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 5

Even as the new government has set up a Special Task Force (STF) that has been directed to focus on stopping the menace of drug addiction in the state, the new teams largely remain unequipped as of now.

Almost all officials are working from temporary, makeshift set-ups.

IG, STF, Parmod Bhan, who has the region under him, has been largely operating from the headquarters in Chandigarh. AIG, STF, Mukhwinder Bhullar, and SP Harpreet Mander have reportedly asked for arrangements in the office of the AIG, Counter Intelligence, on Ladowali Road. As of now, they have been using rooms of the old Police Control Room at the Police Lines.

Even DSPs and subordinate staff are working from offices of equivalent rank officers in districts. The STF, as of date, does not even have rooms where interrogation of those arrested in the drug case can be done properly. Also, there is no separate infrastructure wherein an inquiry officer can sit and maintain record of registration of cases.

The officials said they had been demanding proper arrangements, including technological support, to perform in a more coordinated way.

There also is a sort of push-pull game that has begun between the STF and regular police officials. The STF officials, who have remained posted in Jalandhar for long, are in the process of expanding their teams with 15 men per district. They have reportedly handed over a list with names of some efficient police personnel to the Commissionerate and the rural police, seeking that they be moved to the STF.

Commissionerate police officials are sore and have countered that if all professionally sound people would go to one place, it would affect the working of the city police.

Separate wings lead to space crunch for cops

In fact, creation of separate wings has led to space crunch in the police too. Already, there is no space for the DIG Rural since the office in the Jalandhar Cantonment had to be vacated following court orders.

DIG Jaskaran Singh has been working from the Police Lines.

IG, Zonal, Arpit Shukla, said: “This could only be a workable solution as we could not get an alternate space for his office in Jalandhar.”

Even the DSP, Adampur, who otherwise falls in the Jalandhar Rural Police set-up, has his office in the Police Commissionerate building. However, the Commissioner, Jalandhar, Parveen Sinha said: “That was a set-up before I joined this office. I have learnt that a new office for him has been built. Ideally, he should not shift there.”

Infra pangs

IG, STF, Parmod Bhan, who has the region under him, has been largely operating from the headquarters in Chandigarh. AIG, STF, Mukhwinder Bhullar, and SP Harpreet Mander have reportedly asked for arrangements in the office of the AIG, Counter Intelligence, on Ladowali Road. As of 

now, they have been using rooms of the old Police Control Room at the Police Lines.