Chandigarh, March 5
Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Bajwa on Thursday strongly condemned the shocking incident in Gurdaspur where a family of jewellers was held hostage and looted by armed robbers, stating that the episode has once again exposed the alarming collapse of law and order under the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Bajwa said that such a brazen crime reflects the grim ground reality in Punjab today, where criminals appear fearless while ordinary citizens are left to live in constant fear for their safety and security. He added that the incident has deeply shaken the local community and raised serious questions about the ability of the state government to maintain basic law and order.
“The people of Punjab are witnessing a complete breakdown of policing. Law and order cannot be managed through advertisements, publicity campaigns and hollow claims. The government must understand that safety of citizens is its foremost responsibility,” Bajwa said.
Bajwa pointed out that the most disturbing aspect of the incident was that the dacoity reportedly took place barely 200 metres from the residence of the Senior Superintendent of Police. Bajwa further said that the robbery occurred in broad daylight between 8:00 am and 9:30 am, which clearly shows the audacity of criminals operating in the state. “If such a daring robbery can occur so close to the SSP’s residence, and that too in broad daylight, it raises a very serious question — how safe are ordinary citizens in the rest of the state?” Bajwa asked.
The Congress leader further said that Mann, who also holds the Home portfolio, cannot escape responsibility for the worsening law and order situation in the state. “The Chief Minister appears to be in deep slumber like Kumbhkaran while Punjabis have lost their sleep due to rising crime,” he remarked.
Bajwa demanded a thorough investigation into the incident and immediate arrest of the culprits. He also urged the state government to stop indulging in propaganda and instead focus on restoring public confidence by strengthening policing and ensuring the safety of the people of Punjab.
