New Delhi: Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security breach in Ferozepur, Punjab’s Director General of Police (DGP) seems to have faced the axe for botching up the security arrangements ahead of PM’s rally.
Channi government on Saturday appointed IPS officer Viresh Kumar Bhawra as the new state police chief. The 1987-batch officer will the third Director General of Police in the state in a span of 3 months.
Punjab government selected Viresh Bhawra among the three offices who were shortlisted by a panel of the Union Public Service Commission. The other two officers in the panel were Dinkar Gupta and Prabodh Kumar.
“On the consideration of the panel received from Union Public Service Commission, the Governor of Punjab is pleased to appoint Viresh Kumar Bhawra, IPS as Director General of Police, Punjab (Head of Police Force). His term shall be for a minimum period of two years from the date of assumption of office in pursuance of the orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India dated 03.07.2018,” the order said.
The incumbent Punjab DGP has been in line of fire for major security fiasco in Ferozepur which led to stranding of PM Modi’s convoy at the flyover for 15-20 minutes.
Even Ferozepur Congress MLA Parminder Singh was highly critical of the top cop Siddharth Chattopadhyaya and held him directly responsible for the security lapse.
“The PMO is not just about an individual but a national institution and it must be protected. Three dynamic leaders Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Beant Singh were assassinated. The security of dignitaries should be handled beyond political courses. It is a matter of shame that the Punjab Police administration failed to provide a safe passage to the PM and heads must roll for the unprecedented lapse,” two-time legislator said.
