The Supreme Court-appointed committee, which probed the issue of Prime Minister’s security lapse during his visit in Punjab earlier this year, on Thursday said that the then Firozepur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) has failed in his duty to ensure security to the prime minister.
The five member committee was led by Justice Indu Malhotra, a retired Supreme Court judge. It also suggested some measures to improve the security of the Prime Minister including periodic review of the Blue Book.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) N V Ramana took the report on record and said the same will be sent to the government so that appropriate steps can be taken.
In open court, Justice Ramana read out the report which pointed out that Harmandeep Singh Hans, SSP, Firozepur has failed to discharge his duty even though sufficient time and forces were available with him. He has failed to follow instructions.
Earlier, the bench constituted the committee to oversee the issue while hearing a plea filed by one NGO-Lawyers’ Voice. The petitioner NGO sought Apex Court’s intervention following the blame game between the state and Centre over the issue of Prime Minister’s security breach.
On January 5, this year during his visit to Firozepur for an election rally, Prime Minister Modi had got stuck for about 20 minutes at a flyover due to some protest by the farmers.