Punjab Police to have separate investigation, law and order wings

Chandigarh, Nov 4 (IANS) The Punjab government has decided to separate the investigation duties of the police from their law and order function in order to further strengthen policing in the state and ensure proper probe in heinous crimes, a spokesperson said on Saturday.

The move follows recent spurt in crime cases in the state.

The separation of the investigation and law and order wings will help the police force to carry out their respective functions in a better way, police officials said here. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has also ordered immediate steps to fill the backlog of vacancies in Punjab Police, including the prisons.

"The decision constitutes a part of the series of reforms initiated by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to infuse new energy in the police force and improve the law and order situation in the state," the spokesperson said.

The Chief Minister has issued instructions to the Home Department to start the recruitment process on urgent basis and also to take up the matter of separation of duties on priority and complete the process by November 30, the spokesperson added.

With no recruitment having taken place in the Prisons department for a long time, the Chief Minister, who is also the state Home Minister, has now put filling of vacancies in jails on the top of the agenda for the department.

As many as 1,200 prison staff will be recruited to strengthen security in jails.

In recent years, reports have shown that criminals and gangsters languishing in jails were continuing to operate from within the confines of the prisons and indulging in serious crimes through their operatives.

The Punjab government has also approved recruitment of 2,000 constables in the Punjab Police in the current year, followed by an equal number to be recruited every year, for the next four years.