Bathinda SP suspended over PM Narendra Modi's security breach in 2022

Chandigarh:  Bathinda SP Gurbinder Singh has been suspended for negligence in duty in connection with a security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Punjab on January 5, 2022. The SP has been suspended by the DGP.

The Punjab Ministry in a statement said, “Bathinda SP, Gurbinder Singh has been suspended in the case involving PM Narendra Modi's security lapse in the state on January 5, 2022. He has been accused of dereliction of duty."

Singh was posted as SP operations in Ferozepur during the prime minister's visit to the state.

On January 5 last year, PM Modi's convoy was stranded on a flyover for 15 minutes due to a blockade by protesting farmers in Ferozepur district after which he was forced to return without attending any event, including a rally. 

At that time, Charanjit Singh Channi was the Chief Minister of Punjab, and this incident was viewed as a significant security breach for the Prime Minister. The Supreme Court on January 12 last year had appointed the committee to probe the breach, saying these questions cannot be left to "one­-sided inquiries" as they needed "judicially trained independent minds" to investigate.