Ready to counter terror, say police

CHANDIGARH: The National Security Guard (NSG) has in its audit pointed out chinks in Punjab’s preparedness for counter-terrorism operations, along with other states, but Punjab Police officials say they are “reasonably well-prepared”, but would have done better with regular flow of funds.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 29

The National Security Guard (NSG) has in its audit pointed out chinks in Punjab’s preparedness for counter-terrorism operations, along with other states, but Punjab Police officials say they are “reasonably well-prepared”, but would have done better with regular flow of funds.

“Though the state government had earmarked Rs 417 crore this budget for modernisation of the force, funds are yet to trickle in,” said a police official with the finance department of the government.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, the NSG had conducted a first-of-its-kind audit to check the level of preparedness of state police forces.

Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba will release the full audit report in a meeting of all state DGPs on November 6 in New Delhi.

A quick reality check with state police officials has revealed that the 165-member Special Operations Group (SOG), which is developed on the lines of the National Security Guard, is fully ready to take on any counter-terrorism operation.

Besides, the state has acquired and put into use bullet-proof tractors, 21 Mahindra Scorpios, 11 trucks, one anti-mine Casper Vehicle (which costs Rs 1.19 crore), over 500 bullet-proof morchas, 100 handheld night-vision devices and 300 bullet-proof vests. A crack 25-member commando team has been trained at each district police headquarters.

“This team will be the first responder to any crisis,” said DGP, Law and Order, Hardeep Singh Dhillon.

“We have invested a lot in training and equipment after the Fidayeen attacks in Dinanagar and Pathankot,” said Dhillon.

While Dhillon didn’t share details about the preparedness as the information can be misused, sources reveal that the police force needs more sniffer dogs and security pickets in the fields. “And all that boils down to funds,” said an official. He said though the state has better preparedness compared to other states, it is far less than the days of terrorism when each police station had a bullet-proof vehicle.