VB arrests SDM office official for taking Rs 20,000 bribe
Chandigarh March 19 - The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, has apprehended Tilak Raj, posted at office of SDM -2, Amritsar for accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above mentioned accused has been arrested on the complaint lodged by Amritpal Singh, a resident of village Thathian, Amritsar district.
He further informed that during the investigation of the said complainant it was found that the accused had demanded Rs 30,000 for helping the complainant in his case for getting compensation amounting to Rs 77,92,000 for the land acquired by the National Highway Authority of India. Subsequently, a trap was laid by VB Unit Amritsar and the accused was caught red handed accepting Rs 20,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.
He added that in this regard a case under Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at VB police station Amritsar range. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigation was under progress, he said.
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Vigilance Bureau nabs Patwari for taking Rs 4,000 bribe
Chandigarh March 19 :The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its anti-corruption campaign, on Tuesday nabbed a revenue Patwari Baljit Singh, posted at Phool, Bathinda district red handed for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 4,000.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the VB said this case has been registered against the above said revenue official on the complaint of Iqbal Singh, a resident village Pitho in Bathinda district.
Giving details he added that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged that the above said Patwari has demanded Rs 10,000 as a bribe in lieu of registration of 'virasat intqal' (Mutation) of his ancestral land but the deal has been struck at Rs 6,000. The complainant further alleged that the said Patwari has already taken Rs 2,000 and demanding the remaining balance of bribe of Rs 4,000.
The spokesperson further added that after preliminary investigation of this complaint a VB team has laid a trap in which the accused Patwari has been arrested red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 4,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.
In this regard a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the above mentioned revenue official at VB police station Bathinda range. He would be produced in the competent court tomorrow. Further investigation in this case was under progress, he informed.
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DGP GAURAV YADAV DIRECTS POLICE OFFICERS TO ENSURE FREE, FAIR AND PEACEFUL LOK SABHA ELECTIONS
— CHAIRS STATE-LEVEL MEETING WITH SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS, RANGE ADGPs/IGPs/DIGs, CPs/SSPs AND SHOs TO APPRISE THEM ABOUT ECI GUIDELINES
— STRICTLY ADHERE TO ECI GUIDELINES AND ALL ASPECTS OF MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT, DGP GAURAV YADAV DIRECTS POLICE FORCE
— DGP PUNJAB ORDERS TO MOBILISE MAXIMUM FORCE FOR AREA DOMINATION AND CONFIDENCE BUILDING
— DURING SPECIAL CAMPAIGN, POLICE TEAMS ARREST 2890 POs, INITIATES PREVENTIVE ACTION 2456 PEOPLE UNDER SECTIONS 107/151 OF THE CrPC ACT
CHANDIGARH, March 19:In order to ensure free, fair and peaceful forthcoming General Elections 2024, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Tuesday, directed all the CPs/SSPs of the state to lay effective interstate/inter-district nakas to keep vigil on the movement of anti-social elements, drug smugglers and bootleggers, and mobilise maximum force for area domination and confidence-building measures.
The DGP was chairing a state-level meeting through VC at his office with senior police officers, Range ADGs/IGs/DIGs, CPs/SSPs, all gazetted officers posted in districts, and all SHOs in the state to review preventive measures ahead of elections and apprise them about the guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Emphasising on the need to build a positive environment in the state, DGP Gaurav Yadav directed all the police officers to do professional policing and strictly adhere to all aspects of the Model Code of Conduct and follow all the instructions and guidelines from the ECI to hold free and fair elections. The instructions of the ECI should be further disseminated with the entire force, he said.
DGP Gaurav Yadav informed the officers that there is a complete ban on the issuance of new arms licenses. He also directed the CPs/SSPs to ensure the deposition of weapons in compliance with the ECI norms.
He also asked CPs/SSPs to frequently carry out checking at gun houses to review the security arrangements and ensure that foolproof arrangements have been made by the gun house owner for safe storage of firearms.
He directed the officers to carry out mapping of vulnerable areas to identify the sensitive and hyper-sensitive areas so that extra force could be deployed to avoid any untoward situation ahead of the General Elections. He also directed all the officers to make special efforts to nab accused persons involved in heinous crimes and expedite the investigation and prosecution of cases of election-related offences.
The DGP ordered officers to intensify the checking of vehicles, especially commercial vehicles, entering and exiting the state to check the influx of narcotics and illicit liquor. There should be no let up in the ongoing campaign against drug traffickers, criminals and gangsters, he said.
He said that a special campaign has already been launched to arrest Proclaimed Offenders (POs) and Parole Jumpers and for execution of non-bailable warrants (NBWs).
Pertinently, since the launch of special campaign from January 1, 2024, Police teams till now have arrested as many as 2890 POs, while, preventive action has been taken initiated against 2456 people under sections 107/151 of the CrPC act. Similarly, of a total 2110 Non-Bailable Warrants, 1175 NBWs have been executed successfully.
Notably, the 25 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed in vulnerable districts of the state to instil confidence among the general public as well as to dominate sensitive and hyper-sensitive areas in the state. The 25 companies include five coys of Central Reserved Police Forces (CRPF), 15 coys of Border Security Force (BSF) and five coys of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
Meanwhile, the DGP asked all the officers to have an excellent inter-departmental liaison and cooperation so that all stakeholders and departments work in tandem to ensure peaceful elections.
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ECI directs to transfer Deputy Commissioner of Jalandhar
- Also directs to transfer Ropar Range and Border Range Police Officers
Chandigarh, March 19:Election Commission of India (ECI), on the basis of a complaint has directed to transfer Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner, Vishesh Sarangal. The letter issued in this regard, specifies that he should be transferred from present posting to some other place not in his home district. Also, it must to ensured that the officer should be transferred out of the district and is not posted within the same parliamentary constituency. ECI has demanded a panel of 3 Officers to be appointed the new Deputy Commissioner of Jalandhar.
Similarly, ADGP of Ropar Range, Jaskaran Singh, and DIG of Border Range, Narinder Bhargav, have been directed to be transferred. These two officers have also been asked to be transferred out of the district and not posted within the same parliamentary constituency. Above both officers are getting retirement in April and June respectively. The Commission has demanded panels of 3 names for both postings, from whom new posting would be done
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Punjab CEO’s Press Conference: Sibin C expresses commitment to ensure free and fair elections
- Underscores 15,653 Posters and 7,511 Banners removed across the state after implementation of MCC
- Seizures including Cash and Narcotics worth 113.45 crores since 1st March
Chandigarh, March 19:Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Sibin C, today held a press conference regarding the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 at his office in sector 17. On this occasion, he expressed the commitment of his office to implement the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in letter and spirit in the state so as to ensure free, fair and transparent elections. Divulging details, he pointed out that 24,433 Wall Writings, 15,653 Posters, 7,511 Banners and 23,916 Defacements on Property have been removed across the state from March 16 to March 18, 2024.
He emphasized that to prevent the misuse of muscle and money power, elaborate efforts have been undertaken. Replying to a query, he said 25 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed and additional deployments would be made based on threat assessment. A robust seizure management system has been implemented, resulting in seizures worth 113.45 crores since 1st March, 2024, he added.
He further said that 119 complaints have been received via C-Vigil, with 86 found valid and addressed. CCTV cameras have been installed at inter-state checkpoints, and flying squads equipped with necessary tools have been deployed at inter-district checkpoints.
Sibin C noted that out of 24,433 polling stations in the state, 2,416 have been identified as critical till now, warranting additional security measures. CCTV installation and centralized monitoring will be implemented across all polling stations. Efforts will also focus on increasing voter turnout, particularly at around 12,000 polling stations where voter turnout was lower than the national and state averages in Lok Sabha Elections 2019, so that the objective of 'Is Vaar 70 Paar’ can be achieved.
He added that the District Election Officers-cum-Deputy Commissioner have been directed to ensure Drinking Water, Toilets, Signage, Ramp/Wheelchair, Helpdesk, Voter Facilitation Centre, sufficient Light and Shed facilities at the Polling Stations.
He stated that as on March 1, 2024, Punjab has a total of 2,12,71,246 voters. Efforts have been made to purify the electoral rolls by deleting demographic and photographic similar entries during Special Summary Revision of electoral roll to prevent duplications. Regular meetings have been held with political parties at every stage of electoral roll updating, providing them with opportunities to raise objections.
During the media interaction, Sibin C emphasized the pivotal role of the media in acting as the eyes and ears of the Election Commission, crucial for conducting elections in a free and fair manner. He expressed the office's commitment to actively engage with the media to receive as well as to disseminate critical information to the public.