Some top political leader’s life will be sacrificed, says Punjab Lok Sabha MP Sukhjinder Randhawa on nakas lifted from border areas

Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, the Lok Sabha MP from Gurdaspur, says that Congress Party leaders are also silent about the grenade attacks and adds they are either afraid or unwilling to speak.

Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa wearing a yellow turban and brown jacket Punjab Congress MP

Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa blames senior police officers for a lack of professionalism and integrity. (Credit: X/@Sukhjinder_INC)

Written by: Man Aman Singh Chhina

5 min readChandigarhJan 16, 2025 08:27 PM IST First published on: Jan 16, 2025 at 08:22 PM IST

The latest grenade attack in Punjab targeted a close associate of the Lok Sabha MP from the Gurdaspur constituency, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. A former Deputy Chief Minister and senior Congress leader, Randhawa says the areas of Punjab along the Indo-Pak border belt have recently witnessed a reduced police presence due to the fear created by successive grenade attacks. He also blames senior police officers for a lack of professionalism and integrity. Edited excerpts:

Why do you say the Punjab Police has failed? They have solved all such attacks to date.
Radicals and gangsters in the state have come together. This is the tenth grenade attack in Punjab, with the border belt being the primary target in most cases. The police dismissed the grenade attack on the Majithia police station with excuses but later admitted that such attacks were taking place. This was followed by the Pilibhit encounter.

Walls of police stations are now being raised higher, nets are being installed to prevent grenades from landing inside, and approach roads to police stations are blocked at night to restrict access. After terrorist-cum-gangster Jeevan Fauji threatened following the Bhikhariwal blast to target any cop seen standing at a naka, nakas across the border areas have been removed. From Shampura, where Gurdaspur district begins, to Gurdaspur city, not a single naka remains. Earlier nakas at Thetherke, Dharamkot, Agwan, and Kalanaur have all been lifted. This is a major failure of the Punjab Police. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has not held a single meeting on law and order. “Eho jaye halaat vich kisse vadde political leader di bali dawayi jaayegi” (In such circumstances, the life of a top political leader will be sacrificed).

You have blamed both the Centre and the state government for these failures. Why?
Our national security faces a severe threat from Pakistan. Police stations in border areas have been attacked with grenades. Why hasn’t the state DGP, Gaurav Yadav, or the Chief Minister visited these police stations and posts? If the state government remains silent, the Government of India is no different. They, too, have not spoken about these attacks. It is surprising that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has not been involved in investigating these incidents. Does Delhi want to destabilise Punjab? Are they only interested in vote polarisation?

Can you give a concrete example of the police incompetence you allege?
Do you know that Jaggu Bhagwanpuria’s family was provided with two police gunmen during the recent Assembly by-elections in Dera Baba Nanak? When I questioned this, I was told they faced a threat from gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. So now, the Punjab Police protects the families of gangsters from other gangsters, while the common people remain defenceless.
Look at the number of gangsters from border areas in Gurdaspur — Happy Passia, Jeevan Fauji, Nishan, Shera Mann, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, Harry Chatha, Sukh Bhikhariwala, and others. There are 14 to 15 such individuals around Dera Baba Nanak. Last month, a shopkeeper in Dera Baba Nanak was fired upon by gangsters. He had approached the police for protection and a weapon licence after receiving threat calls from Jeevan Fauji on November 22, 2024. Another individual received a threat from Happy Passia but was also denied a weapon licence. I personally spoke to the SSP of Batala, recommending a licence, but no action was taken.
In another case, the police refused to register an FIR until a bribe of Rs 5,000 was paid to an Assistant Sub-Inspector. After I raised the issue publicly, the bribe was returned to the shopkeeper, and he was provided with gunmen for protection.
Under the Village Patrol Act, 1860, the SSP can issue arms to individuals as part of a Village Defence Committee if the threat is credible. This was the approach used to recruit Special Police Officers (SPOs) during Punjab’s terrorism days, but it is not being implemented now.

Why is the Congress leadership’s condemnation of these attacks so muted?
During the terrorism years, the Congress leadership in Punjab was vocal against terrorists. Hindus in Punjab felt that the Congress would protect them. Today, however, our party leaders are silent. They are not openly condemning these incidents or questioning the Chief Minister. Either they are afraid or unwilling to speak.
If we do not take a clear stand against terrorism and gangsterism, how can we seek votes from the people of Punjab? Our leaders are not even holding the ruling party accountable, particularly on issues such as Sukhbir Badal’s statements before the Akal Takht.