Ex-DGP’s book records Punjab Police’s sporting achievements

Former DGP MS Bhullar and PAP ADGP MF Farooqui released a book titled Ever Onwards, authored by former DGP Rajdeep Singh Gill, at the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) Campus on Tuesday evening. The launch event witnessed a gathering of international-level players from Punjab Police, BSF and CRPF.

The book, the first of its kind on the All India Police Games, documents results from 1951 to 2010. It features biographies of outstanding sportspersons, photographs of key meets, teams and top athletes, along with notable records. Gill said he included select events from the All India Police Duty Meet, such as equestrian and shooting, as they fall under the sports category. Profiles of police mountaineers have also been included, making the book more comprehensive.

Bhullar congratulated Gill on the unique initiative and recalled his memories from service. “While Punjab Police is renowned for its bravery and dedication, its sporting achievements set it apart. We take great pride in our players,” he said.

MF Farooqui praised the sporting legacy established by Bhullar and Gill, calling them a continuing source of inspiration. He noted Punjab Police’s recent success at the World Police Games held in the USA.

Gill shared that compiling the book took a decade, as no central repository of data existed. “It was a herculean task to collect information and photographs,” he said. “The All India Police Sports Control Board, State Police forces and Central agencies lacked consolidated records.” The data was painstakingly sourced from state and central sports offices, libraries, newspapers, magazines and retired sportspersons.

Gill expressed gratitude to his assistant Mohinder Singh, who was involved in every stage of the book’s preparation. He also thanked former DSP Lakhvir Singh, former Inspector Indervir Sharma and several retired and serving athletes who assisted in gathering materials.

Olympic hockey medallist Surinder Singh Sodhi, Arjuna awardee Sajjan Singh Cheema and Padma Shri Bahadur Singh were also present and shared their views.

Sports writer Navdeep Singh Gill, in his keynote address, remarked: “Punjabis are often mocked for knowing how to make history, but not preserve it. This book proves otherwise—it preserves the rich legacy of Punjab Police in sports.