Punjab Police order probe into Batala traffic cops' 'pre-wedding shoot' row

The Punjab Police have ordered a departmental inquiry against traffic personnel in Batala after a private video showed them appearing in what senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia claimed was a “pre-wedding shoot” of newly appointed Batala Market Committee Chairman Engineer Manik Mehta.

Majithia shared the video on social media, alleging that it showed police personnel acting as “extras” and questioned the state’s security priorities in the wake of the murder of two police personnel at the international border in Gurdaspur district under still unclear circumstances.

In his post, Majithia said it was shocking that police personnel were being used in film shoots linked to a leader of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) when law enforcement officers were facing grave threats. The situation has raised serious questions about security priorities in the state, he said, asking Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav to clarify how officers were permitted to participate in such activities.

“On one hand, in Punjab, two police personnel were murdered at the international border in Gurdaspur district and Punjab Police is yet to ascertain who carried out the murder and how the incident took place. On the other hand, a ‘pre-wedding shoot’ of newly appointed Batala Market Committee Chairman Engineer Manik Mehta is underway, where serving Punjab Police personnel have allegedly been used. Is this the state of security arrangements in Punjab?” Majithia said.

He further alleged that the AAP government appeared to be prioritising “pre-wedding shoots of its leaders” over maintaining law and order and demanded suspension of Market Committee Chairman Manik Mehta and the Punjab Police personnel seen participating in the “pre-wedding shoot” video.

Responding to the controversy, Batala Deputy Superintendent of Police Tajinderpal Singh confirmed that action had been initiated. He said a video circulating on social media showed members of the Batala traffic staff appearing in a private production without obtaining prior approval from the department.

“A departmental inquiry has been initiated against the officials concerned for this act of indiscipline,” he told PTI.

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