Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit has written a letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann yet again, and this time, seeking a comprehensive report on the ‘illegal’ mining incident in Tarn Taran.
This action comes after Senior IPS officer Gurmeet Chauhan was recently transferred from his role as SSP in Tarn Taran. Chauhan had made headlines for arresting 10 individuals in connection with an illegal mining case, which included the brother-in-law of AAP Khadoor Sahib MLA Manjinder Singh Lalpura. In response to various media reports, Governor Banwarilal Purohit addressed the Chief Minister in his letter, stating, ‘I have come across conflicting reports in the media regarding allegations made by an MLA about corruption within the police force, the alleged involvement of close relatives of the MLA in illegal mining activities during the night, and the subsequent suspension of police officials, including the transfer of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Tarn Taran. Illegal mining is a significant concern in Punjab, often associated with corruption. Some media reports have indicated that a police team uncovered illegal mining operations during the night in Tarn Taran district, with one of the MLA’s close relatives allegedly involved. These reports further suggest that the police team involved in the raid was suspended, and the SSP was transferred.’
The Governor emphasized that, in light of these media reports, he seeks a detailed report addressing the MLA’s allegations, the illegal mining incident, and the subsequent actions taken against police officials.