The Punjab Police has raised two anti-riot police (ARP) units, comprising 250 police personnels each, to deal with rioting incidents in the state.
To tackle the riotlike situations in an effective manner, the Punjab Police have constituted two units of antiriot police ( ARP) and one unit of special weapons and tactic ( SWAT). “Two units of ARP comprising 250 cops each and a unit of SWAT with about 50 specially trained cops have been constituted,” director general of police ( DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini told Hindustan Times.
While one unit of ARP is deployed at Punjab Armed Police ( PAP) here, another unit is split into two parts of 125 cops each and deployed at Mansa and Muktsar, the DGP said, adding that as PAP was located centrally located, ARP cops would be immediately dispatched to deal with a riot- like situation.
Each cop of ARP was specially trained to control mob and special weapons like baton, teargas shells, protection glasses etc were provided to them with the facility of ambulance and firstaid, he said.
During post- Vienna incident, it was noticed that cops could not act in an effective manner and Rapid Action Force ( RAF) had to be summoned from the Centre to tackle the situation during bandh on Balwant Singh Rajoana issue.
Apart from ARP, a unit of special weapon and tactic ( SWAT) comprising about 50 cops is also constituted with its deployment at PAP, Jalandhar, so that well- trained commandos could rush to any location as per the requirement to deal with the situation.
“SWAT is a striking force equipped with sophisticated weapons and imparted training by specialists from Israel to deal with any situation by remaining defensive as well as offensive,” the DGP said, adding that both SWAT and ARP units were integrated.
“After revision of personal security of so- called VIPs, we spared as many as 3,500 cops and formed ARP and SWAT. In the next couple of months, we will review the deployment of personal security again and anybody who is enjoying Punjab Police security outside the state and not domicile of state will not be provided any security,” Saini said.
On possibility of revival of terrorism in the state, the DGP said that Punjab Police was an experienced force to tackle and thwart any such evil designs.
Regarding issuance of licence of weapon to Sukhdev Singh Namdhari, key accused in the Ponty Chadha murder case, the DGP said that deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal had already ordered an inquiry into the case and strict action would be taken against those found guilty.
Source: HT