Haryana, Punjab cops join hands to curb smuggling

Suspecting an increase in drug peddling along the border districts in the run-up to the Assembly elections, the police forces of Haryana and Punjab have decided to enhance inter-state coordination by conducting joint patrolling in Sirsa, Fatehabad and Jind districts. They said this would help crack down on the smuggling of contraband into Haryana from across the border.

Hisar range police spokesperson said the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) of Hisar range, M Ravi Kiran, held a virtual meeting with the senior officials of the Punjab Police to chalk out a strategy to maintain law and order and to ensure fair elections in the state.

The ADGP also asked the Punjab Police to keep tabs on pharmaceutical firms and distilleries in their state. He directed the SPs of Hisar range police to share a list of those proclaimed offenders (PO) and bail jumpers who belonged to Punjab and sought Punjab Police’s help in arresting such persons.

The ADGP said police officials of both states would collectively patrol the border to ensure a complete curb on drug peddling and liquor smuggling. The police teams of both the states would also jointly carry out search operations of the vehicles crossing the borders. The meeting was attended by SPs, DIG, IG and ADGP of Bathinda. The SPs of Hisar range police were also present.

The ADGP directed all the SPs of Hisar range police to hold meetings with senior officials as well as police station incharges in the border areas to ensure mutual coordination.

The police spokesperson said four districts of Hisar range shared borders with Punjab, including Dabwali, Sirsa, Fatehabad and Jind. He said the entire distance of 231 km of the shared border would be manned by police officials on both sides.

He said at present 11 check-posts had been set up along the route and 50 others were going to be set up before the elections. He said CCTV cameras would be installed at all permanent and temporary checkpoints for active monitoring and wireless sets would be provided to the police officials.

The SPs and police station incharges of the border districts of Punjab and Hisar had been directed to create WhatsApp group to exchange information, the spokesperson said, adding that so far 15 meetings had been held between the police officials of Hisar range and those of the Punjab Police at the levels of SPs, DSPs and station incharge.