Policeman’s killing after poll announcement reflects Punjab’s lawlessness, says Bajwa

After a police constable was killed in a village near Mukerian, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday rebuked the Punjab Government’s claim of being fully geared up to ensure free and fair elections in the state.

‘The Election Commission of India on Saturday, March 16 announced the election schedule and consequently, the election code of conduct came into force. A day after on March 17, a Punjab Police Constable, Amritpal Singh was killed in broad daylight in Mansoorpur village of the Mukerian sub-division by a petty gangster, Sukhwinder Singh. The incident exposed the AAP government›s false claims about controlling the crime in the state», Bajwa added.
The Senior Congress Leader, Bajwa said that despite raising the issue of growing gun crime and gangsterism in the state umpteen times, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who also holds the Home Portfolio failed miserably to show sincerity on the issue. The family of the deceased constable also condemned the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government for its inefficiency in reining in gangsterism.

‘This is not the only incident in which a police personnel has been killed in an encounter with gangsters, in August 2023, a police constable, Kuldeep Singh Bajwa was killed in an encounter with 4 armed gangsters in Phagwara. If the Punjab police cannot protect themselves how could it ensure the safety of the citizens of Punjab’, Bajwa asked.
The opposition leader said that organised crime, extortion, and gangsterism in the state have grown rapidly in the state ever since the AAP got hold of power in Punjab in 2022. Despite lofty claims, the AAP government remained unsuccessful in streamlining the deteriorated law and order situation in the state.

‘Would the Punjab CM ever be serious about clamping down the growing crime rate? «, Bajwa expressed doubt about the intention of the Punjab CM.