State on high alert ahead of I-Day

 

The Punjab Police have beefed up security across the state and all field units have been directed to remain on high alert ahead of the Independence Day functions.

As directed by the Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, police teams conducted flag marches at all sensitive areas in all 28 police districts simultaneously, followed by cordon and search operations (CASOs) at all vulnerable spots.

Special DGP, Law and Order, Arpit Shukla, said police teams, led by CPs/SSPs, conducted flag marches in sensitive and vulnerable areas of their respective districts. The exercise was aimed to boost the confidence of the general public, besides preparing police personnel to tackle any untoward situation, he said.

The Special DGP said the CPs/SSPs were also directed to conduct a special Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) under the supervision of SP-rank officer at all crowded places, including railway stations, bus stands, markets, shopping malls, public parks etc across the state. “We had strictly instructed all cops to deal with every person in a friendly and polite manner while frisking them during the course of this operation,” he added.

He said around 250 police teams, involving over 1,500 personnel, were deputed across the state to look for suspicious persons in the state, while ensuring minimum inconvenience to the general public.

Apart from this, Police teams continued CASO against drugs on Day 165, and conducted raids at 374 locations on Wednesday, leading to the arrest of 73 drug smugglers after the registration of 53 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested reached 25,719 within 165 days.

The Special DGP said the raids had resulted in the seizure of 2.4 kg heroin and Rs 42,800 drug money from the arrested drug smugglers.

He said over 120 police teams, comprising over 1,100 police personnel, under the supervision of 73 gazetted officers, had conducted raids across the state and checked 406 suspicious persons during the day-long operation.

The Special DGP said the state government had enforced a three-pronged strategy — Enforcement, De-addiction and Prevention (EDP) — to eradicate drugs from the state.

The Punjab Police convinced 61 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

Punjab