Chandigarh: Continuing the spree to further modernise the Punjab Police on scientific lines, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday flagged off a fleet of 16 hi-tech Mahindra Bolero vehicles and 56 Motorcycles to further strengthen the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU).
Addressing the gathering after flagging off the vehicles, the Chief Minister said that this endeavor was part of the state government’s campaign to check the inhuman practice of human trafficking. He said that this menace had enhanced manifolds across the globe but the state government is duty bound to curb it with heavy hand. Bhagwant Mann said that no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause and Punjab Police will be equipped with ultra modern infrastructure to combat this crime.
The Chief Minister said that the government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against the illegal travel agents who dupe the people and carry on human trafficking. He said that apart from taking exemplary action against such travel agents the state government will also start a major awareness drive to make the people aware about these dubious travel agents. Bhagwant Mann also said that necessary amendments will also be made in the Immigration Act to ensure severest of severe action against such travel agents.
Citing the case of around 700 students stuck in Canada, the Chief Minister said that these students have been duped by the travel agents by sending them on fake documents. He said that the state government is committed to tightening the noose around such travel agents. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government is in contact with the Canadian embassy to ensure that the culprits of this heinous crime get strict punishment, here in Punjab.
Giving details of the hi-tech vehicles, the Chief Minister said that these vehicles are equipped with an advanced Mobile Network Video Recording System (MNVRS), four cameras— two outdoor and two indoor— and Vehicle Location Tracking System (VLTS). Bhagwant Mann termed the launch of these hi-tech as yet another step towards modernizing policing, which will help in effectively preventing human trafficking of women and children in the state. He said that the advanced Mobile Surveillance system installed in these Bolero vehicles is robust with industrial grade standards and can record video in a moving vehicle to collect evidence with real-time monitoring and alerts.
The Chief Minister further said that this will also allow officers to monitor live activity and locate vehicles through the Control Room, besides making voice communication with the people sitting in the vehicle during its movement in the field. Bhagwant Mann said that Bolero vehicles have two outdoor cameras, which can view up to 30 meters, while two cameras have been installed inside the vehicle to provide a sense of security and required support to the victim sitting inside the vehicle. He said that these vehicles also have a seven inch display screen installed on its dashboard for monitoring footage of the cameras, which have storage capacity of 30 days.
The Chief Minister said that being a border state a number of forces inimical to state have been chalking out nefarious designs to disturb hard earned peace of state but the Punjab Police has always foiled such attempts. He said that to further overcome major challenges faced by the state it is imperative that the Police force is updated as per advanced requirements in the field of investigation, science and technology. Bhagwant Mann expressed hope that the Punjab Police will uphold the glorious legacy of serving the people with utmost professional commitment.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the state government has decided to constitute a dedicated ‘Road Safety Force’ to streamline the movement of traffic on the roads and check road casualties in the state. He said that these causalities can be checked by manning the roads well for which ‘Road Safety Force’ will be formed in Punjab Police. Bhagwant Mann said that this force will be entrusted with the task of checking rash driving, streamlining vehicular movement on roads and others to check the road accidents adding that it will reduce the burden on cops deployed in Police stations. On the occasion, DGP Gaurav Yadav and other officers were also present.
