Punjab: In preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla announced the deployment of at least 225 additional companies of central forces as well as 80 per cent of the Punjab Police force.
He said the effort is aimed at ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections in the border state, with special attention to sensitive and hyper-sensitive areas. 25 companies of central forces are already deployed in the state.
IGP/DIG Border Range, IGP, Jalandhar Range, Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar and Senior Superintendents of Police of Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar (Rural) were present in the meeting.
Emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and harmony, Special DGP Shukla directed the officers to engage in professional policing and prevent any disruption. He ordered intensified checking of vehicles, especially commercial vehicles entering and exiting the state, to curb the influx of narcotics and illicit liquor.
The officers were also directed to give priority to the arrest of persons involved in serious crimes, drug trafficking and bootlegging, as well as expedite investigation and prosecution of election-related crimes.
He said, since the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, Punjab Police has recovered unaccounted cash worth Rs 5.45 crore, 11.49 lakh liters of liquor and 99.62 kg of drugs.
The Special DGP also briefed the officials about the deployment norms at polling stations to ensure that important and sensitive locations will get additional support from the Punjab Police as well as the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). Security protocols for election candidates to ensure their safety during the election period were also discussed.
