Have dismissed many cops in corruption cases, says DGP Gaurav Yadav

Amid attack of the Opposition on the state government for not being able to clean the state machinery in view of the recent arrest of DIG Ropar Harcharan Singh Bhullar by the CBI, Punjab Director-General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav here today tried to avoid comments, terming the matter to be sub judice.

"I do not want to go into the details of this specific case. But we have been adopting a zero-tolerance policy. We have dismissed several cops who were found to be indulging in corruption. They are being tried under the Prevention of Corruption Act under the purview of the Vigilance Bureau," said Yadav, who was at the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) headquarters to attend the 66th state-level Police Commemoration Day this morning.

The DGP said the police had busted financial channels linked to narcotics operations by arresting 64 hawala operators and seized Rs14 crore as illicit funds. He said the Pakistan-based ISI and other extremist elements were attempting to disturb peace in Punjab.

On the issue of extortion calls, Yadav said investigations revealed that over 80 per cent of such calls were made by local criminals posing as gangsters. He directed all Commissioners of Police and SSPs to treat each extortion call as an FIR and conduct a thorough probe. “Our topmost priority is common citizens,” he said.

The DGP led the homage ceremony and paid glowing tributes to the martyrs, describing the Punjab Police as an exceptional force that has served the nation with unmatched dedication during both peace and turmoil. He said since September 1981, the Punjab Police had sacrificed 1,802 officers, including three police personnel this year alone, in the line of duty.

Addressing the gathering after laying wreaths at the Police Martyrs’ Memorial, DGP Yadav said, “It is because of these martyrs that we are living peacefully today. The Punjab Police has a proud legacy of bravery, courage and commitment to rooting out militancy. The force will continue to uphold peace and communal harmony in the border state.”

The DGP said the state government had seized over 1,300 kg of heroin, aided by more than 16,000 public tips received via the Safe Punjab helpline.

This public-backed initiative, he said, had resulted in the registration of a large number of FIRs and the dismantling of several drug networks.