A report into security lapses during prime minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Punjab’s Ferozepur in January has said that the then district senior superintendent of police, Hardeep Bhans, ‘failed to discharge (his) duty and augment route though sufficient time and forces were available with him’, the Supreme Court said Thursday morning.
The top court also said the report would be sent to both the central and Punjab governments, and declared the matter closed. The prime minister was scheduled to visit Ferozepur on January 5 to lay the foundation stones for multiple development projects – worth over ₹42,750 crore – months before the Punjab assembly election.
The home ministry said that on the day Modi landed at Punjab’s Bathinda and was scheduled to travel to the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter. However, poor weather and visibility meant the prime minister travelled by road instead.
The high-security convoy set off after confirming that required security arrangements had been made by Punjab Police. But, about 30 km before the memorial, the convoy was stuck on a flyover because the road had been blocked by protestors.
