Ludhiana police to review security for political leaders amid rising attacks in Punjab

Payal Dhawan / Apr 8, 2025, 23:57 IST

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Ludhiana police to review security for political leaders amid rising attacks in Punjab

Ludhiana: In the wake of a grenade attack on the house of BJP's former Punjab minister Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar, the district police have initiated a city-wide security review for political leaders and members of various outfits, amid growing criticism from local BJP members who claim their prior warnings went unheeded.
The police commissioner has directed all station house officers (SHOs) and assistant commissioners of police (ACPs) to assess the current security arrangements for political figures and review the performance of officers assigned to personal protection duties.
Deputy commissioner of police (law and order), Parminder Singh Bhandal, confirmed the move on Tuesday. He said: "The commissioner has ordered a thorough security review of the leaders from all political and social outfits. The SHOs and ACPs will report on who has security currently, how effectively it is being delivered, and whether additional protection is needed. Officers assigned to VIP security will also be rebriefed."
However, the move has drawn criticism from local BJP members, who claim to have requested for enhanced protection repeatedly over the past year. "Only five BJP members in Ludhiana have security currently �?Anil Sarin, Jatinder Mittal, Jeevan Gupta, Mahesh Sharma, and I," said BJP district president Rajneesh Dhiman. "We submitted written requests to Ludhiana's police commissioner as well as the Punjab DGP (director general of police) seeking protection for at least eight more senior members, including MLA candidates, our general secretary, and vice-president. We were ignored �?even during elections."

Dhiman claimed that the party had received no official communication regarding any ongoing security review in the city. The investigation continues, as political tensions mount and public safety concerns intensify in the run-up to the assembly's monsoon session.
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About the Author

Payal Dhawan

Payal Dhawan is a senior correspondent with the Times of India Newspaper, based in Ludhiana, Punjab since 2013. She covers crime, police administration, prisons, vigilance bureau and NIA. She also writes on weapon culture in Punjab, various gangs and jail inmates besides other issues.

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