Won’t let Akali halqa chiefs meddle in police matters: DGP

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 25

Director General of Police Suresh Arora, who took over the reins of the Punjab Police a month ago, today said he would not allow Akali ‘halqa’ (constituency) chiefs to interfere in police matters, and that any policeman found flouting norms under political patronage would not be spared.

The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal has been into the practice of appointing constituency heads for quite some time now and a few of these leaders, it is alleged, wield so much influence that they run parallel police stations. Opposition parties allege that halqa in charge not only meddle in police functioning, but they even enjoy a say in departmental postings in their respective segments.

Responding to media queries on halqa chiefs “calling the shots in police appointments as well as investigations”, the DGP said, “Having police sub-divisions in sync with Assembly segments is a government policy in which I cannot do anything. But I have told my officers that no complaints of policemen playing partisan role should come to me. They have to function as per law.”

Asked how such complaints would reach him, Arora said, “These can come through you (media). You are the eyes and ears of people. I read all newspapers very thoroughly. There are other senior officials, including IGs, DIGs and bureaucrats, who too can be approached.”