News Analysis India

Tag: security breach

  • PM security breach: Disciplinary proceedings against then Punjab DGP, two police officers

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Monday ordered the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against former DGP S Chattopadhyaya and two other police officers over the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state in January last year.

    Apart from Chattopadhyaya who has since retired, the disciplinary proceedings will be initiated against Inderbir Singh, the then deputy inspector general (DIG) of police of Ferozepur range, and Harmandeep Singh Hans, the then senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Ferozepur.

    Official sources said these officers would be asked to submit their responses.

    According to the Home Affairs department’s communication to the Personnel department issued on Monday, Mann also decided that explanations be called from Naresh Arora, the then ADGP (Law and Order), G Nageshwara Rao, the then ADGP Cyber Crime, Mukhvinder Singh Chhina, the then IGP Patiala Range, Rakesh Agrawal, the then IG Counter Intelligence and Nodal Officer, Surjeet Singh, the then DIG Faridkot, and Charanjit Singh, the then SSP Moga, as to why disciplinary proceedings should not be initiated against them as recommended in the Supreme Court-constituted inquiry committee report.

    The move came after the Supreme Court-appointed committee, which probed the security breach during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Punjab in January 2022, had indicted several state officers for lapses.

    On January 5, 2022, Modi’s convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by protesters in Ferozepur after which he returned from Punjab without attending any event, including a rally.

    The top court on January 12 last year had appointed the committee to probe the breach, saying these questions cannot be left to “one­-sided inquiries” as they needed “judicially trained independent minds” to investigate.

    The Union Home Secretary had last month written to the Punjab chief secretary to submit an action taken report on the matter.

    A few days ago, Punjab Chief Secretary V K Janjua had said that the state government would send an action taken report to the Centre.

    The chief secretary had then said that penalties to the erring officials can include stopping increments, demotion and in worse case dismissal of those still in service.

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Monday ordered the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against former DGP S Chattopadhyaya and two other police officers over the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state in January last year.

    Apart from Chattopadhyaya who has since retired, the disciplinary proceedings will be initiated against Inderbir Singh, the then deputy inspector general (DIG) of police of Ferozepur range, and Harmandeep Singh Hans, the then senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Ferozepur.

    Official sources said these officers would be asked to submit their responses.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    According to the Home Affairs department’s communication to the Personnel department issued on Monday, Mann also decided that explanations be called from Naresh Arora, the then ADGP (Law and Order), G Nageshwara Rao, the then ADGP Cyber Crime, Mukhvinder Singh Chhina, the then IGP Patiala Range, Rakesh Agrawal, the then IG Counter Intelligence and Nodal Officer, Surjeet Singh, the then DIG Faridkot, and Charanjit Singh, the then SSP Moga, as to why disciplinary proceedings should not be initiated against them as recommended in the Supreme Court-constituted inquiry committee report.

    The move came after the Supreme Court-appointed committee, which probed the security breach during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Punjab in January 2022, had indicted several state officers for lapses.

    On January 5, 2022, Modi’s convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by protesters in Ferozepur after which he returned from Punjab without attending any event, including a rally.

    The top court on January 12 last year had appointed the committee to probe the breach, saying these questions cannot be left to “one­-sided inquiries” as they needed “judicially trained independent minds” to investigate.

    The Union Home Secretary had last month written to the Punjab chief secretary to submit an action taken report on the matter.

    A few days ago, Punjab Chief Secretary V K Janjua had said that the state government would send an action taken report to the Centre.

    The chief secretary had then said that penalties to the erring officials can include stopping increments, demotion and in worse case dismissal of those still in service.

  • Prime Minister Modi’s security breach result of Congress fears: MP CM Chouhan

    By PTI

    HYDERABAD: Referring to the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday alleged that the Congress party could not compete with the BJP in elections and hence put Modi’s life “under threat”.

    Chouhan was here to attend an event organised to welcome Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar following his release from Karimnagar prison.

    “What happened in Punjab has never happened in India’s history. The Prime Minister went to Punjab and providing security (to the PM) is the responsibility of the State government. When Prime Ministers even from Congress visited (our state) we used to make all necessary arrangements,” he said.

    Speaking about BJP’s ‘sanskar’, Chouhan recalled that when Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister and he as a Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh had been to the United States then a journalist there asked him that “your Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is an underachiever”.

    ALSO READ: Silence of top Cong leaders says a lot about their intention behind PM’s security breach in Punjab, says Anurag Thakur 

    “My reply was not Congress (Prime Minister). India’s Prime Minister can never be an underachiever and it is our pride. That was my answer. But, what has happened to them (Congress). Madam Sonia Gandhi is so scared that they cannot compete (in elections). So, put the Prime Minister’s life under threat. Play with national security. Has such a thing ever happened in the history of the country,” the senior BJP leader asked. The DGP, Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister (of Punjab) were not there, he said.

    The Madha Pradesh Chief Minister said though the way and the circumstances under which the Punjab government kept Prime Minister (PM’s convoy was stranded on a flyover in Ferozepur) on the flyover for 20 minutes, nothing happened to Modi due to the prayers and blessings of crores of Indians and sought to know is this politics.

    The Prime Minister, who was travelling by road in Punjab on Wednesday, was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes due to a blockade by some protesters, an incident the Union Home Ministry described as a “major lapse” in his security.

    ALSO READ: A ‘classic case of lack of coordination’ among agencies, say Experts on PM security breach

    Chouhan further attacked Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao over his reported comments against Prime Minister Modi and said : “KCR (as Rao is also referred to) calls him (Modi) a salesman. Modi ji enhanced India’s stature globally and he (KCR) passes comments on him. They cannot compete (in elections)”.

    He also took a swipe at KCR saying “it is your second term while I am in the fourth term”. Chouhan claimed KCR cannot stop BJP from coming into power in 2023 Assembly elections in Telangana by sending the saffron party leaders to prison.

    He also critcised KCR over the recent arrest of Sanjay Kumar, Lok Sabha member from Karimnagar.

    Sanjay Kumar, whose planned protest was foiled on Sunday for alleged violation of COVID-19 guidelines, was arrested on various charges including violation of provisions of the Disaster Management Act and Indian Penal Code Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant), police said.

    He was sent to 14-day judicial remand but was subsequently granted bail by the Telangana High Court and released on Wednesday.

  • PM security breach: Amarinder Singh calls for President’s rule in Punjab

    By PTI

    FEROZEPUR: Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday called for President’s rule in the state after a breach was reported here in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security.

    Amarinder said the Channi government had utterly failed in ensuring law and order in the state.

    Modi on Wednesday returned without addressing a rally in the poll-bound state after his convoy got stuck in a road blockade near Hussainiwala.

    “If we have to keep our state safe and keep law and order here, then I think President’s rule should be imposed,” the Punjab Lok Congress chief told media after addressing a rally here, where Modi too was scheduled to speak.

    Amarinder, who left Congress to form his own party last year November, has allied with BJP to contest the upcoming polls.

    “We are 10 km away from the border in Pakistan, where the function was kept (in Ferozepur). If you cannot ensure PM’s security, what can you do? We need a strong government,” he said. He attributed ‘complete failure’ of security to the CM and the home minister of the state and said they have no right to stay in office.

    Modi’s convoy was stranded on a flyover when it was 30 kms away from National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, which he was going to visit. He had earlier landed in Bathinda and was going by road to Hussainiwala, when his convoy found that the road ahead was blocked by agitating farmers.

    ALSO READ | Modi forced to turn back after farmers block road in Punjab, Centre terms it ‘security lapse’

    In its statement issued after the incident, the MHA also asked the Punjab government to fix responsibility for the lapse and take strict action. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya at the event in Ferozepur told the public that the PM’s programme was postponed and not cancelled.

    Modi was visiting Punjab after a gap of two years and the first time since the repealing of the three farm laws, the cause of a year-long farmer-stir at Delhi borders.

    Amarinder in his address attacked both Congress and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for promising “freebies” and asked them to reveal the source of money with which they are seeking to fund these ventures. He also spoke about several schemes he started in his four-and-half-year tenure before he was deposed.

    Current Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi succeeded Amarinder Singh after a rift in the state Congress that led to the latter’s unceremonious exit.

    Amarinder said he fulfilled 92 per cent of poll promises he made during the 2017 state assembly elections. “Navjot Sidhu and other Congress leaders hold press conferences and say they will put out achievements of their five-year rule, but on the other hand, they mislead people saying I did nothing. Congress will go to people with a five-year report card,” says Sidhu.

    “If I have done nothing, with what report card will he go before people? People understand their lies and know about the achievements of my government,” he said.

    The veteran politician also said under his tenure 1.6 lakh people got government jobs, and 20 lakh others in the private sector. He said the Congress leaders in the state are confused about what to tell people, adding they should stick to one version.

  • Pegasus row: SC to hear pleas seeking probe into snooping allegations on August 5

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on August 5 the pleas, including the one filed by senior journalists N Ram and Sashi Kumar, who have sought an independent probe by a sitting or a retired judge into the alleged Pegasus snooping matter.

    According to the cause list uploaded on the apex court website, a bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Surya Kant would hear on August 5 three separate petitions seeking probe into the reports of alleged snooping by government agencies on eminent citizens, politicians and scribes by using Israeli spyware Pegasus.

    On July 30, the top court had said it would hear next week the plea filed by Ram and Kumar in the matter.

    Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the senior journalists, had told the court last week that the plea needed an urgent hearing in view of its wide ramifications.

    According to the plea, the alleged snooping represented an attempt by agencies and organisations to muzzle the exercise of free speech and expression of dissent in India.

    The petition also seeks a direction to the Centre to disclose if the government or any of its agencies obtained licence for Pegasus spyware and used it, either directly or indirectly, to conduct surveillance in any manner.

    ALSO READ | Congress ‘James Bond of spying’ when in govt; Pegasus ‘fabricated issue’: Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

    The petitioners have claimed that investigations involving several leading publications around the world have revealed that several Indians, including journalists, lawyers, ministers, opposition politicians and activists, have been identified as potential targets for surveillance using the Pegasus software.

    Besides the plea filed by Ram and Kumar, two separate petitions on the issue have been filed in the apex court by advocate M L Sharma and John Brittas.

    In his plea, Sharma has sought a court-monitored probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the reports of alleged snooping.

    An international media consortium has reported that over 300 verified Indian mobile phone numbers were on a list of potential targets for surveillance using Israeli firm NSO’s Pegasus spyware.

    “The targeted surveillance using military-grade spyware is an unacceptable violation of the right to privacy which has been held to be a fundamental right under Articles 14 (equality before the law), 19 (freedom of speech and expression) and 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) by the Supreme Court,” said the plea, filed by the two journalists.

    The hacking of phones belonging to journalists, doctors, lawyers, activists, ministers and opposition politicians “seriously compromises” the effective exercise of the fundamental right to free speech and expression, it said.

    Such an act has an obvious chilling effect on expression by threatening invasion into the most core and private aspects of a person’s life, it added.

    According to the petition, hacking of phones using the Pegasus spyware constituted a criminal offence punishable under Sections 66 (computer related offences), 66B (punishment for dishonestly receiving stolen computer resource or communication device), 66E (punishment for violation of privacy) and 66F (punishment for cyberterrorism) of the IT Act, punishable with imprisonment and/or fine.