Punjab Police Calls Border Range Security Advisory Fake as Opposition Attacks Mann Govt

Punjab Police has rejected as fabricated a purported internal advisory on personal security for its personnel, after opposition leaders circulated the document and questioned the law-and-order situation in the state.

The controversy began when Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Shiromani Akali Dal general secretary Bikram Singh Majithia shared on social media what they described as an advisory issued by the Inspector General of Police, Border Range, Amritsar, to the Senior Superintendents of Police of Amritsar Rural, Batala, Gurdaspur and Pathankot.

According to the document dated September 18, personnel were told not to move around unnecessarily in uniform while travelling to or from duty points, and to take precautions before entering markets and residential areas. It also urged them to avoid predictable movement, including fixed groups, timings and modes of transport, and to inform officers and control points of their departure and safe arrival.

The purported order further advised personnel not to travel alone where possible and to follow the Buddy Pair System, while calling for 360-degree security coverage at nakas and checking points, dispersal of staff instead of crowding at one spot, and an armed sentry at a secure position. It also stressed caution while checking unidentified persons and vehicles, keeping weapons ready, and avoiding unnecessary mobile phone use or personal conversations on duty.

Punjab Police, however, said no such advisory exists. In a post on its official handle, the force said neither its headquarters nor any office under it had issued directions asking personnel to avoid wearing uniform while going to or returning from duty, or to wear civilian clothes while commuting. It described the messages circulating on social media as fake and urged citizens and police personnel to rely only on official channels for authentic information.

The document had already triggered a political storm, with the opposition citing it as evidence of mounting security concerns for police personnel and attacking the Bhagwant Mann government over the law-and-order situation.

Majithia alleged that the Punjab Police had been rendered helpless under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, referred to viral audio recordings purportedly suggesting police helplessness before gangsters, and demanded that the force clarify whether the situation had deteriorated. Claiming that fear prevails among Punjabis, he said the Chief Minister should resign if he cannot handle the state. After the police denial, Majithia demanded an independent forensic analysis of the advisory.

Warring also targeted the government, saying that while Punjab was facing serious problems, the Chief Minister was busy telling jokes on public platforms.