Punjab CM Channi announces slew of sops for policemen

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 31

Announcing a slew of incentives for policemen, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi today lauded the services rendered by cops in maintaining peace and law and order in the country, and said any question mark on their integrity is “unwarranted and undesirable”.

PCC president Navjot Singh Sidhu had drawn criticism over his statement regarding the men in uniform recently.

Attending a function at the PAP complex, the Chief Minister accepted one of their major demands by announcing restart of uniform allowance from New Year.

He said superior uniform would be provided to policemen for which the cost would be borne by the state government. He also announced free bus travel for on duty cops in government transport, and added personnel would continue to get 13 months’ salary.

The Chief Minister said the government would provide risk allowance to the bomb disposal unit. He also enhanced diet money for sportspersons of the Punjab Police from existing Rs 150 to Rs 250 per day during camps. CM Channi further approved ground renovation on the PAP campus at a cost of Rs 1 crore to boost sports.

He said a ‘Police Sanjh Kendra’ would be opened at Amritsar and Mohali airports to facilitate NRIs coming into the state. He announced requisite funds for purchase of 250 vehicles for the force and enhanced the police welfare fund from existing Rs 10 crore to Rs 15 crore from the next budget.

He lauded the role of the Punjab Police in restoring normalcy in the state after the black days of terrorism. He expressed hope the police would be successful in wiping out drugs from the state.

The CM said some forces inimical to state were bent upon disturbing peace, but expressed hope with support of people, the challenges would be overcome. On his arrival on the campus, the CM was given a guard of honour. He laid a wreath at martyrs’ memorial and interacted with officials during a welfare meeting.

Deputy CM Sukhjinder Randhawa, Cabinet Minister Raj Kumar Verka, DGP Siddharth Chattopadhyaya, PAP DGP IPS Sahota and others were also present. — TNS

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