Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today ordered promotions for all personnel of this police station who recently played an active role in pinning down and neutralising the Pak terrorists during the fidayeen strike in this town on July 27.The Deputy CM, who stood up to address the seated jawans who displayed exemplary courage and valour during the operation against the Pakistani terrorists, said "it is a matter of record that you did not care for your personal safety and went after the terrorists with whatever was at your command. I feel proud that I am home minister of a State and a force which is individually capable of taking any terrorist activity head on".Assuring the police personnel that they would be honoured for the exemplary courage shown by them, he said it was not an easy task to neutralise such highly trained terrorists. He said besides promotions for all personnel who participated in the operation, all home guards who were part of the operation would be inducted into the main force.
He also congratulated DGP Sumedh Singh Saini for leading from the front on the occasion as well as the fast response of the Punjab Police in dealing with the situation. The DGP took Mr Badal on a round of the police station as well as the spot where the terrorists were holed up besides explaining the whole operation. The Deputy CM also interacted with the police personnel on the occasion.Later while talking to newsmen, Mr. Sukhbir Badal announced that a Rapid Rural Response force would be launched in September. He said this force would respond to any call emanating from any village in the State within ten minutes as was the case in the cities presently. He said 220 vehicles had been ordered for this purpose. Ha also said Punjab would also setup a training institute near Derabassi at a cost of Rs. 50 crore to impart specialized training to the police force.
Mr Badal also announced that an exclusive SWAT team would be established in addition to the present team for the border areas. He said the new team would be based in the border region to deal with any exigency. He said Rs 50 crore had been allocated for the Special Security Group and that foreign tie ups had also been finalised to impart specialised training to the teams. "We will have the world's best available SWAT team in Punjab", he added.
Besides this Mr Badal when questioned said additional surveillance was needed at the border. He said more CCTV cameras and surveillance equipment needed to be installed. He said for this the army and the BSF would have to upgrade their security apparatus. The Deputy CM said as far as the State was concerned, CCTV cameras would be installed along all major highways as well as in all corporation towns.The Deputy CM was accompanied by Mr. Gurbachan Singh Babbehali and Mr. Des Raj Dhugga, both Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, DGP Sumedh Singh Saini and Mr. Jangveer Singh, Media Advisor to the Deputy CM. EOM