NEW DELHI: Punjab Police on Tuesday denied issuing any advisory directing police officials to avoid wearing uniforms while going to or coming from duty.In a social media post on X, Punjab Police said that messages circulating online are fake and should be ignored, and advised personnel and citizens to rely only on official channels for information.“Punjab Police Headquarters or any other Punjab Police office under it has issued no advisory directing police personnel to avoid wearing uniform while going to or returning from duty,” Punjab Police said.“Such messages circulating on social media are fake and should be ignored,” it added.This comes after state leader of opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa latched on to the advisory circulating online to target chief minister Bhagwant Mann, saying that the move reflected concerns over the safety of Punjabis and the morale of Punjab Police.In his post on X, Bajwa questioned Mann over who was in charge of Punjab’s law and order.“Punjab Police personnel are now reportedly being advised not to travel in uniform and to wear it only after reaching their police stations. This is the disturbing consequence of having a Home Minister who appears more interested in taking jibes at the Opposition, political grandstanding and theatrics than in ensuring the safety of Punjabis and morale of Punjab Police,” Bajwa said.
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“When the police themselves are being told to hide their identity while commuting, it is time to ask CM Bhagwant Mann: who is really in charge of Punjab’s law and order?” he questioned.This comes after assistant sub-inspector Harjit Singh was killed in Amritsar during patrol duty. He was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Hakima police station area.Amritsar Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill had claimed that the murder was orchestrated by an individual from Pakistan, operating abroad, who enticed the accused with money and promises of involvement in the narcotics trade.One accused was killed in a police encounter at a checkpoint on Thanda Road, while another escaped.