Centre seeks action-taken report from Punjab over PM Modi's security breach

The Central government has sought a detailed actiontaken report from the Punjab government over Prime Minister Narendra Modis security breach during his visit to the state on January 5 last year government sources said on SundayAccording to sources a letter has been sent through the Ministry of Home Affairs MHA to the Punjab government asking for a detailed action taken report against the erring officersIt is learnt that Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla asked Punjab Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua to submit the action taken report highlighting the delay by the Punjab government in acting against the erring officersAccording to sources the letter was sent earlier this month pointing to share the report as soon as possibleA report of the Supreme Courtappointed inquiry committee looking into the breach in security during PM Modis Punjab visit on January 5 2022 which was submitted six months ago indicted thenstate Chief Secretary Anirudh Tewari Police Chief S Chattopadhyaya and other top officers for lapsesSoon after the security breach the MHA had constituted a threemember committee that summoned Director General of Punjab Police Siddharth Chattopadhyaya Punjab ADGP Patiala IGP and Ferozpur DIG along among over a dozen top Punjab Police officers They were responsible for the Prime Ministers security during his visit to Punjabs Ferozpur on January 5The MHA then constituted a threemember committee led by Sudhir Kumar Saxena Secretary Security Cabinet Secretariat Balbir Singh Joint Director IB and S Suresh IG Special Protection GroupThe Centre is considering action under the Special Protection Group SPG Act against Punjab Police officers following the breach in the security of Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Punjab on January 5Section 14 of the SPG Act makes the state government responsible for providing all assistance to the SPG during the PMs movementThe provision titled Assistance to Group states It shall be the duty of every Ministry and Department of the Central Government or the State Government or the Union Territory Administration every Indian Mission every local or other authority or every civil or military authority to act in aid of the Director or any member of the Group whenever called upon to do so in furtherance of the duties and responsibilities assigned to such Director or memberThe MHAs threemember team started its probe from its visit to the flyover where Prime Ministers convoy was stuck for over 1520 minutes due to a road blockade by protesters during his visitThe MHA had constituted the threemember committee to enquire into the serious lapses in the security arrangements during the PMs visit to Punjabs Ferozepur which led to the exposure of the VVIP to grave security riskThe MHA had then also asked the Punjab government to fix responsibility for this lapse and take strict actionThe action was taken after the Prime Ministers convoy during its visit to National Martyrs Memorial in Punjab via road reached a flyover where the road was blocked by some protestorsAlso Read Some people trying to defame country CM Yogi over Rahul Gandhis remarksThe Prime Minister was stuck on the flyover for 1520 minutes This was a major lapse in the security of the Prime MinisterThe Punjab government had also constituted a highlevel committee to probe the incidentPrime Minister Modi landed at Bathinda on January 5 morning from where he was to go to the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopterDue to rain and poor visibility the Prime Minister waited for about 20 minutes for the weather to clear out When the weather did not improve it was decided that he would visit the National Martyrs Memorial via road which would take more than two hoursPrime Minister Modi then proceeded to travel by road after necessary confirmation of necessary security arrangements by the DGP Punjab Police mentions the statement Around 30 km away from the National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala when his convoy reached a flyover it was found that the road was blocked by some protestorsPrime Minister Modi was stuck on a flyover for 1520 minutes It was flagged as a major lapse in his securityThe Home Ministry had then said PM Modis schedule and travel plan were communicated well in advance to the Punjab governmentFollowing procedure the Home Ministry said they had to make necessary arrangements for logistics and security as well as keep a contingency plan readyAlso in view of the contingency plan the Punjab government had to deploy additional security to secure any movement by road which was clearly not deployed the MHA had said then adding after this security lapse it was decided to head back to Bathinda AirportThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute 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