Security tents pitched in green belts removed

Hearing the case this morning,the High Court extended the deadline for removal of the remaining six security tents from the green belts by Tuesday. As all the remaining six security tents belong to Punjab,the HC issued instructions to the Punjab government to ensure compliance of orders and submit a final report in the court on Tuesday.

The Punjab government this morning submitted its report in court,saying that 60 tents pitched outside the residences of Punjab protectees have been lifted. Similarly,the Haryana government too submitted that three tents pitched outside the residences of Haryana protectees have been lifted. The Punjab government added that only six security tents,which are occupied by ITBP and CRPF personnel,remain to be lifted because alternative arrangements are yet to be made for shifting the ITBP and CRPF personnel staying in those tents,so that the security of the protectees remain intact.

UT Senior Standing Counsel Sanjay Kaushal submitted his contentions in court,saying that the removal of security tents may jeopardise the security of protectees. He also referred to the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on security issues.

However,though the division bench took note of these points,it dismissed them,by holding that “such averrments/ apprehensions are ill-founded”. The division bench even held that the court has only ordered Chandigarh to remove the security tents from the green belts. But due steps need to be taken by the UT to ensure security of the protectees.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had on Thursday given Chandigarh a 24-hour deadline to remove of all unauthorised security tents pitched in green belts.

Punjab Police in dilemma

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Police is in a dilemma on where to house the policemen guarding VVIPs as around 60 tents were removed by the state police on directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Senior state police officers went into a huddle at a meeting headed by Punjab DGP S S Saini to discuss the issue. Officers were told to work out options to house the security personnel in government accommodations close to the VVIPs’ residences.

Sources said that there was also a view that the security requirements of the VVIPs should be re-examined. Also,a mechanism should be developed so that if there is any contingency to a VVIP,then the nearest security team should reach the residence in minimal time. Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence and Security) Hardeep Singh Dhillon and Inspector General of Police (Security) Sanjeev Kalra reached the High Court and explained the situation,after which the court gave a deadline till Tuesday.

The six tents that are yet to be removed are from Sector 9,the private residence of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal where mostly his son Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal,who is also the state Home Minister,stays.