Punjab CM announces Rs 2 cr grant for advanced police training

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday announced an annual grant of Rs two crores for advanced training of police personnel of all ranks, from constables to PPS officers, in the best domestic and foreign training centers, in order to empower them to meet the challenges of modern policing.

Capt Amarinder, addressing a batch of new recruits of 18 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) and 494 Sub-Inspectors (SIs) — the largest ever group of directly recruited officials in these ranks of the Punjab Police, expressed great pleasure at seeing a large number of women among the probationers. Out of total 196 women, seven were recruited as DSPs.

Earlier, Capt Amarinder inspected the parade and took the salute from the march past, which included 18 probationary DSPs and 494 SIs.

Probationary DSP Rupinderdeep Kaur was the all round first, while Sarabjeet Kaur stood all round first in probationary sub inspector. Probationary Sub-Inspector Rimpledeep Kaur was the all round first in intelligence category, while in IT and Telecommunications, Sub Inspector Rinku stood all round first.

Extending his best wishes to the new recruits, Capt Amarinder expressed confidence that they would contribute significantly to further strengthening the capabilities of the Punjab Police, which was among the best police force in the world.

Impressed with the parade and their high standards of training and drill which he described as essential in view of the changing needs of policing in the transforming environment, Capt Amarinder stressed on the importance of inculcating skills of electronic and IT policing among the men and women, noting that criminals today were adopting technology in a big way to evade the law.

Capt Amarinder cited unique challenges to underline the importance of training for the men and women of Punjab Police to help them remain abreast of the latest in terms of equipment and technology to cope with the latest challenges. Identifying regular and high quality of training and skill development as the main reason for the excellence of the Punjab Police, the Chief Minister lauded the force’s recent spate of successes in improving the state’s law and order.

With the force being unshackled from political control by his government, which had given a free hand to the Punjab Police, Capt Amarinder said that there was a marked decline in the number of sacrilege cases and heinous crimes, along with elimination of gangsters and various mafias in the state.

The Chief Minister congratulated the force for these achievements, and in particular their success in solving the cases of targeted killings and hate crimes perpetrated in the state before his government took over.

“With this, the police has successfully foiled a major bid by the ISI and their handlers or operatives based in Pakistan to revive terrorism in Punjab,” he added.

Referring to the historic Phillaur Fort, where the Academy is located, the Chief Minister congratulated PPA for its role in preserving the historic monument and announced a grant of Rs three crores for the repair and restoration of the Museum, old classrooms and hostels.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister conferred one Police medal for gallantry. He also presented President’s Police Medals for distinguished services to seven officers, including, Vigilance Director BK Uppal, IG Gurpreet Deo, DIG Ranbeer Khatra, Additional IG Arun Saini and additional DG Rohit Chaudhry.

In addition, 59 Police medals for meritorious services were presented to three ADGPs, two IGPs, two DIGs, 12 SSPs or Commandants or DCP or AIG, one DSP, 18 Inspectors, 14 Sub-Inspectors, 14 ASIs and a Head Constable.