The Gurdaspur terror attack had brought back the memories of dark militancy days in Punjab. The Punjab police managed to tackle the fidayeen attack on its own. Punjab DGP and director of Punjab Police Academy S.K. Sharma talks to Tanveer Thakur about the police preparedness, new challenges and the things which need to be done to improve efficiency of the police in dealing with such situations in the future.
Q: The Punjab police is a battle hardened force by tackling militancy in the past. Does this experience help even now in dealing with terrorists?
A: Experience always matter, our force had faced terrorism for very long in the past. However, the mental orientation to deal with terrorist attack should be present. The preparedness should always be there. As there is peace in the state, sometimes focus is lost, the interference in the police work increase. This should not happen, police should never be allowed to lose focus for any reason.
QYou were one of the young officers who had seen militancy at its peak. Do you see any change in the strategy of terrorists now and then?
A: Earlier terrorists used to carry weapons like old revolvers, mousers big guns, AK-47, RPG which were difficult to hide. Then during the militancy they changed to IED, large quantities of RDX so that they can be away from the action and cause maximum damage. However, since fidayeen attacks started things totally changed. These terrorists are very determined and willing to die. To handle such kind of terrorists a different level of preparedness is needed in the force. The police force has to change its orientation, force has to be withdrawn from VIP duties, and brought back to policing duties.
Q: Punjab has dealt with local terrorists in the past. For the first time Pakistan based LeT had attacked Punjab. Do you think Punjab police is equipped to deal with such situations?
A: Our boys have faced terrorism in the past. However, now our strategy to deal with new kind of threat has to change. The training has to change more importantly keeping our forces ready and in preparedness is essential to deal with any such situation.
Q: The Gurdaspur terror strike was a terrorist attack faced by Punjab after a long time. Were you anticipating any such strike, any Intelligence inputs were available?
A: General intelligence inputs keep coming. Gurdaspur is a border district close to Pakistan as well as not far from Jammu. The intelligence inputs are frequent, but it is not easy to anticipate such an attack. We have to sit together and make a strategy. Be always ready. We cannot wish it away as one of incident.
Q Do you fear any local support emerging for terrorism in Punjab in near future?
A: Punjabis have suffered a great deal and has learnt a great deal. I don’t see such support emerging.
Q: Is there any change in training and equipment for modernising the Punjab police?
A: Even as our capacities in training are best than anywhere else in the country, we have to uplift our training infrastructure. In order to raise our standards and modernisation we need funds. There should be special budget for training of the force. At least 6 per cent of the police budget should be allocated for the training of the force.
Q Are there any plans to increase the numbers in your special forces like SWAT?
A We have created our special forces by training them under Israeli experts. They are trained in handling various situations. However, now we have to sit together and decide on how to base them at various locations in Punjab. Presently they are based in Chandigarh, it takes lot of time for them to reach other parts of Punjab. We have to decide on increasing their reach and preparing them for any situation at any moment.
