PM Modi’s security breach: Punjab SP suspended over lapses in Ferozpur, last year

New Delhi: Bathinda SP (investigations) Gurvinder Singh Sanga, who was reportedly overseeing the ground security arrangements during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Ferozpur visit has been suspended for dereliction of duty.

Gurvinder Singh Sanga was posted as SP operations in Ferozpur, when Prime Minister’s security breach on January 5, 2022 created a big flutter in political circles and shook the entire security establishment in Delhi.

The police investigation found the high-ranking official to be ‘negligent & ignorant’ of his duty during Prime Minister’s visit to the region.

According to Punjab DGP report, “Gurvinder Singh Sanga has been suspended for negligence in duty. Gurvinder Singh was then SP Operation, Ferozepur. Gurvinder Singh is currently posted in Bathinda.”

At the time of PM’s security lapse, Gurvinder Sanga was in charge as SP of Ferozepur. Following the incident, a detailed investigation was launched.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had observed that the five-member panel appointed by it had found gross insufficiency & incompetency on Ferozpur police part. The panel found that Ferozepur SSP failed to discharge his duty objectively.

“The Ferozepur SSP failed to discharge his duty to maintain law and order. He failed to do this even though sufficient force was available and even though he was informed two hours in advance that the Prime Minister would enter that route,” it had said.

What transpired during PM’s security lapse

It was on January 5, 2022 that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s convoy got stuck on top of a flyover for almost 15-20 minutes, during visit to Ferozpur in Punjab, as the road was blocked by farm protestors.

PM Modi was scheduled to fly to Ferozpur to participate in a public gathering. However, an inclement weather prevented him from taking air route and the cavalcade rather opted for road route. The convoy got stuck on its way to the venue, atop a flyover for over 15-20 minutes as protesting farmers had blocked the roads ahead.

The visuals of PM’s convoy stuck at a flyover, barely hundred kilometers from India-Pakistan border triggered big security scare and sent shockwaves through the entire security establishment.

After waiting for about 15 minutes, the convoy had to return to Bathinda without attending the public rally in Ferozpur.