The Supreme Court noted on Thursday after hearing a complaint about security shortcomings during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab in January that the Ferozepur SSP “failed to fulfil his duties” despite being informed beforehand that the Prime Minister would be using the route.
In January, a Wednesday farmer protest in Punjab’s Ferozepur district caused the Prime Minister’s cavalcade to become stuck on a flyover for more than 15 minutes (January 5).
A report on what the Ministry of Home Affairs dubbed “a grave breakdown in the security of the PM” has been requested from the Punjab administration.
On January 12, the Supreme Court established a committee headed by Justice Indu Malhotra, a former member of the court, to look into the security lapse that occurred during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab.
After reading the report that Justice (retired) Indu Malhotra, the person chosen to look into the alleged security breach, presented, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana declared: “Ferozepur SSP failed to execute his duty to preserve law and order.
He failed to do this despite having access to enough force and being notified two hours beforehand that PM Modi would take that course.
“He proceeded to travel by road after necessary confirmation of necessary security arrangements by the DGP Punjab Police,” the Ministry said in a statement.
In contrast to the Home Ministry’s assertion that the PM’s schedule had been disclosed in advance, then-Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi alleged that the PM had a sudden change of plans.
