New Delhi: A Supreme Court-appointed committee to probe the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Punjab in January has found that the Ferozepur SSP "failed to discharge his duty" though sufficient force was available. Modi's convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by protesters in Ferozepur on January 5, after which PM Modi returned to Delhi from Punjab without attending any event, including a political rally.
The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will send the report of the five-member committee headed by former apex court judge Indu Malhotra to the Centre for appropriate action.
"The Ferozepur SSP failed to discharge his duty to maintain law and order. He failed to do this even though the sufficient force was available and even though he was informed two hours before that PM will enter that route," the bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana and also comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli said while reading from the committee's report.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, while welcoming PM Modi to Mohali for inaugurating a state-of-the-art health facility, on Wednesday described the security lapse incident as “unfortunate".
PM Modi Security Lapse Incident
Ahead of the Punjab Assembly Election 2022, the matter of PM security lapse led to a massive political row with the then CM Channi-led Congress government in the state being heavily criticised.
The Home Minister had set up a three-member committee to probe the “serious lapses in the security arrangements" that “led to the exposure of the VVIP to grave security risk".
In January, the SC appointed a committee to probe if there was any criminal conspiracy in the incident and also probe the role of Punjab Police officers.
“A judicially trained independent mind duly assisted with officers well acquired with security issues & Registrar General of HC who seized records would be best placed, to submit a comprehensive report,” SC had then said.
(With PTI Inputs)