Punjab Government Suspends Police Officers Following Gangster’s Jail Interview
In a significant development, the Punjab Home Ministry has suspended seven police officers, including Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) Gursher Sandhu and Sammer Vaneet, in light of an investigation into an interview conducted with notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi while he was incarcerated.
The decision to suspend the officers was made in response to directives from the Governor of Punjab and comes after a detailed inquiry by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed under the supervision of the Special Director General of Police for the Punjab State Human Rights Commission.
According to official reports, Bishnoi, who is currently detained, managed to give an interview via video conference to a television channel on the night of September 3-4, 2022, while held at the Central Jail in Kharar. The investigation revealed a series of lapses in duty by police personnel, prompting the suspension.
The suspended officers include:
- Gursher Singh: Former DSP (Investigations) in SAS Nagar
- Sammer Vaneet: Current officer in the Economic Offences Wing
- Sub Inspector Reena: From the CIA in Kharar
- Sub Inspectors Jagatpal Jangu and Shaganjit Singh: Members of the Anti-Gangster Task Force
- ASI Mukhtiar Singh and Head Constable Om Parkash: Also implicated in the findings of the report.
The order stated that the officers failed to maintain the necessary security protocols that allowed Bishnoi to communicate with the media while in custody, thus violating the provisions of the Prisons Act.
In a related development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for any information leading to the arrest of Anmol Bishnoi, Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother. Anmol is a key suspect in two NIA cases registered in 2022 and is linked to a recent shooting incident outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s residence.
Authorities are appealing to the public for any leads on Anmol Bishnoi’s whereabouts, highlighting that his capture could provide crucial information regarding the extensive networks of organized crime operating in Punjab and beyond. The investigation into both the police misconduct and the Bishnoi crime family continues to unfold, raising significant concerns about security and law enforcement efficacy in the region.
