Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa raises questions over alleged police-gangster links in Gurdaspur
Former Punjab Home Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has raised serious questions over the functioning of the Punjab Police, alleging possible links between certain police officials in Gurdaspur and gangsters. Randhawa has demanded an inquiry into the allegations and called for the mobile phones of senior police officials to be examined.
Randhawa seeks mobile phone checks
Referring to SSP-level officials in the Gurdaspur and Batala police districts, Randhawa urged the Punjab DGP to check their mobile phones to establish whether they were allegedly in contact with gangsters.
He questioned which gangsters were reportedly calling these officials and sought clarity on the nature and extent of such alleged communications. Randhawa said a mobile phone examination could help establish whether there were any links that require further investigation.
Two DSPs also mentioned
Randhawa also referred to two DSP-level officers while raising the allegations. He said the DSP of Dera Baba Nanak and a DSP who was transferred from Batala should also come under scrutiny.
However, Randhawa did not directly name the serving SSPs while making the allegations. At present, Aditya is the SSP of Gurdaspur, while Dr Mehtab Singh is the SSP of Batala. Randhawa did not make any direct allegation against either officer by name and instead referred to the SSP-level officials of the two police districts.
Randhawa challenges DGP to act on allegations
Randhawa said that if his allegations are found to be false, the DGP should register an FIR against him. At the same time, he maintained that if the allegations are found to be true, action should be taken against the police officials concerned.
His remarks place the focus on the need for an impartial verification of the allegations rather than treating them as established facts.
Questions over Punjab's law and order
Randhawa also criticised the overall law-and-order situation in Punjab and linked the issue to the state's police leadership. He said that the appointment of a regular DGP could help improve the situation in the state.
The allegations have now put the spotlight on the Punjab Police's internal functioning and the mechanisms used to monitor possible links between police officials and organised crime. It remains to be seen whether the police department issues a response to Randhawa's claims and whether any official inquiry is ordered.
For now, his statement has triggered a fresh political debate over policing, accountability and law and order in Punjab.
