Advisory or fake circular? Punjab Opposition flags ‘no police uniform’ letter

Two Opposition leaders in Punjab on Tuesday released an alleged internal Border Range Police circular advising personnel to avoid wearing uniforms while travelling to and from duty, claiming that the force is operating in fear under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

The Punjab Police, however, dismissed the document as fake. The letter released by state Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia stated that police personnel should not wear uniforms while coming on duty or returning from duty.

It advised personnel to wear plain clothes before leaving home and the police post (chowki). It added that ordinary civilian dress, badge, identity card, police equipment, or any other item that makes a person’s police identity obvious should not be displayed in public.

The purported letter shared by Warring and Majithia was said to be written by Inspector General of Police, Border Range, Amritsar, Gurpeet Singh Bhullar, to the senior superintendents of police of Amritsar (Rural), Batala, Gurdaspur and Pathankot.

The letter posted on social media sets out “special instructions” on the personal security of police personnel, security of duty points, and tighter vigilance. It advises police personnel to avoid travelling alone whenever possible.

“Movement should be undertaken according to the Buddy Pair System (companion-pair system). Necessary information regarding departure and safe arrival at the destination should be provided to the concerned officer/control point,” it added.

Sharing the letter and an audio recording purported to be of a police official, Raja Warring posted on X, “Rome was burning and Nero was playing the flute…Punjab is burning and Bhagwant Mann is telling jokes on the stage”.

Majithia also shared the same letter on X. “Punjab Police, once known for eliminating terrorism and maintaining law and order, has allegedly been rendered helpless under “Guru Dokhi” Bhagwant Mann’s leadership……Fear prevails among Punjabis over the deteriorating law and order situation…..In view of the alarming nature of the audio that is going viral across various groups, the police must clarify their position and explain whether the situation has deteriorated to such an extent,” the post read.

The letter was allegedly dated September 18, the day an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) was shot dead in Amritsar while on duty. It lays down a standard operating procedure to ensure the safety and security of police personnel.

The letter directs gazetted officers and station house officers to supervise night checks and calls for coordination with the Anti-Gangster Task Force and Anti-Narcotics Task Force when needed. The border belt has also seen earlier attacks on police, including the killing of ASI Joga Singh near Majitha while he was travelling to duty.