Chandigarh: In order to ensure peace and harmony amidst the ongoing festive season and prevent stubble burning in the state as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Wednesday, ordered all the CPs/SSPs of the state to devise a foolproof Action Plan against organised crime, drug trafficking and stubble burning in the State.

The DGP was holding a state-level Law and Order Review Meeting via Video Conference to review action against organised crime, drug trafficking and stubble burning in the State. The meeting was attended by all the Senior Police Officers, Range ADGPs/IGs/DIGs, CPs/SSPs, DSPs & all the SHOs of the Punjab.

Stressing on the need to work in tandem with the Civil Administration to prevent stubble burning in the state, he ordered all CPs/SSPs to hold daily meetings with District Magistrates, besides ensuring that the SHOs should personally patrol in their jurisdictions and take steps to stop stubble burning immediately. He also directed all the CPs/SSPs to divide the districts into Sectors and depute a Gazetted Officer as incharge of the Sector.

Pertinently, complying with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court to ensure a full stop on stubble burning, DGP Gaurav Yadav has also appointed Special DGP Law and Order Punjab Arpit Shukla as the Police Nodal Officer to work under his close supervision to monitor action against stubble burning. “The Police Nodal Officer shall issue suitable directions, hold meetings, conduct tours, and collect & collate relevant information and put up to the DGP Punjab and the Chief Secretary so that monitoring of the actions being undertaken by the Police to ensure compliance of the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court is done in an effective manner,” the order reads.

Sharing more details, the Official Spokesperson of the Punjab Police said that depending on the area and size of the Police Station, a sufficient number of additional patrolling parties are being activated with immediate effect.

He said that the Civil Administration and local district police have been working together to prevent stubble burning in the state. Liaison and coordination is maintained with the Fire Department for the deployment of fire tenders, he added.

The Police Spokesperson also said that the district Police has been directed to engage farmers, citizens and various stakeholders to sensitise them about the ill effects of the stubble burning, which is also a violation of law and action and action could be initiated against them.