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Supreme Court panel blames SSP for PM Modi security breach in Ferozepur
The Congress was in power in Punjab at the time of the incident. Then deputy chief minister, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who held the home portfolio, did not respond to calls.
A judicial probe by a former Supreme Court judge has indicted a senior officer of Punjab Police for the security breach in Prime Minister’s security in January this year, and recommended a slew of remedial measures to prevent recurrence of such instances in future.
The police officer, Harmandeep Singh Hans was Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ferozepur, when the convoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was stranded on a flyover for 20 minutes on January 5 during an official visit to the state. A public interest litigation was filed by a Delhi-based NGO Lawyers Voice before the Supreme Court, and a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana on January 12 appointed former Supreme Court judge, justice (retd) Indu Malhotra, to examine the cause behind the security breach and identify those responsible.
Revealing the contents of the report, a bench of CJI NV Ramana and justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli said: “It (report) has said the Ferozepur SSP failed to discharge his duty to maintain law and order. He failed to take any steps for deployment to strengthen the route (taken by PM) in Ferozepur, though he was fully aware that there were large hostile groups who have come to block the route.”
Sharing further details from the report, the bench said, “He failed to augment and strengthen the route even though sufficient force was available with him. There was sufficient time of approximately two hours (from 10.20am onwards) when Additional Director General of Police G Nageshwar Rao informed him that the PM will be taking the contingency route and the route should be adequately strengthened.”
Despite such clear instructions, received two hours in advance, before the PM entered Ferozepur, the SSP failed to act upon the instructions of his superior, the bench added. A protest on the PM’s route held up the convoy on the flyover leading to Ferozepur, causing a major security scare.
The bench directed that a copy of the report to be given to the Centre as the justice Malhotra committee also recommended remedial measures.
“There are remedial measures and safeguards needed for enhancing PM security. It is suggested that an oversight committee be constituted for periodic revision and update of Blue Book, training and sensitisation of police officers concerned with security measures, and planning for VVIP visits, etc.We will send the report to the government. Let them take action,” the bench said.
Hans is currently posted as Commandant of the 3rd India Reserve Battalion.
Senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for the petitioner NGO, sought a redacted copy of the report but the bench declined the request saying it report contained details of security arrangements.
The justice Malhotra committee’s terms of reference included probe into the causes for the January 5 security breach, persons responsible for the breach, and remedial measures or safeguards necessary for the security of PM and other protectees, including constitutional functionaries.
Reacting to the panel’s report, Union minister Anurag Thakur said, “Who informed the protestors about the PM’s route? If this was a safe and sanitised route, then how did protestors reach the spot?The then Congress CM was acting at the behest of his party leaders. The Congress has to answer.”
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s state chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said that breach in PM’s security is a matter of serious concern. “The state government has full responsibility. There were lapses and the responsibility of the then state government must be fixed,” he said.
The Congress was in power in Punjab at the time of the incident. Then deputy chief minister, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who held the home portfolio, did not respond to calls.
