Swapan Sharma, Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana.

Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma of Ludhiana, Punjab, has directed all Station House Officers (SHOs) of Ludhiana police stations to cease taking complaints on financial, matrimonial, and land-related issues. Police officials at the rank of ACP (Assistant Commissioner of Police) and higher will now look into these instances.

These verbal directives were recently given by the police commissioner during a meeting with the SHOs and other city-based officials. The police commissioner claims that because many crimes necessitate a lengthy investigation, these directives have been issued to ensure prompt investigation and settlement.

Sources claim that in the past, people would bring grievances to senior officers, which would put pressure on them or lead to biased behavior. Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma informed the reporters that it takes a long time to investigate instances involving financial, matrimonial, and land conflicts. Investigations are delayed because the police stations’ investigating officers simultaneously have court hearings and other law-and-order responsibilities.

Senior officers will be given responsibility.
We have 25 gazetted officers from the ACP level to the DCP level who are connected to the staff, the police commissioner informed the reporters.

Sources claim that in the past, people would bring grievances to senior officers, which would put pressure on them or lead to biased behavior. Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma informed the reporters that it takes a long time to investigate instances involving financial, matrimonial, and land conflicts. Investigations are delayed because the police stations’ investigating officers simultaneously have court hearings and other law-and-order responsibilities.

We have 25 gazetted officers from the ACP level to the DCP level who are connected to the personnel, the police commissioner informed the reporters. These police are able to finish investigations more quickly because they are not required to appear in court for hearings or other law and order tasks. He added that this action would lessen people’s hardships and ensure that they receive justice promptly.

According to an SHO who spoke on condition of anonymity, the police commissioner verbally instructed them not to take complaints about financial crimes and marital conflicts at a recent meeting. Rather, complainants have been asked to present their complaints to higher-ranking officials.

Tough Measures Against Negligence
Notably, six police officers—including one inspector—have been suspended by the police commissioner in the past 19 days on allegations of carelessness and neglect of duty. This action is regarded as a significant step in guaranteeing accountability and openness inside the police force.

More than 250 government schools in Ludhiana have been negatively impacted by the ongoing rain. Issues including cracked floors, leaking roofs, water filling up classrooms, waterlogging in schools, and defective electrical equipment have become more prominent.

The regular operations of elementary and senior secondary schools have been interrupted, exposing a number of deteriorating buildings. Given the gravity of the situation, the education administration has directed all schools to use Google Sheets on Tuesday to give a thorough report of the damage.

The impacted areas, including the roof, floor, plaster, boundary wall, doors, windows, and paintwork, must be described in depth in the report. Along with the projected cost of repair, it must also list the quantity of broken toilets, electrical equipment, furniture, lab equipment, and other essential goods.

Reports of damage were submitted by schools.

The cost of repairs, which ranges from a few hundred rupees to thousands, has been reported by over 250 schools.

For instance, Government Girls Senior Secondary School (GGSSS), Sahnewal, asked for Rs 15,000 for electrical repairs after reporting that 560 square feet of its boundary wall and 8,500 square feet of its roof were damaged.

Government High School Sehoj Majra, Government Middle School Tamkodi, GGSSS Jarg (Girls), and GGSSS Talwandi Rai also reported projector damage.

Barmi Schools and Government Primary School Kotel, meanwhile, reported waterlogging problems on their grounds. Due to the constant rain, numerous schools complained that the issue of water seeping from roofs has gotten worse.

The difficulty of starting schools

The state government set a holiday for all government-aided, recognized, and private schools from August 27 to August 30 in response to the flood situation in Punjab. This break was then extended to September 3, and on September 8th, classes resumed.

Many places still have water, and the essential infrastructure has not been rebuilt. According to a Ludhiana education department official, a report is being prepared in accordance with the state’s directives. He promised to make the state’s requested monies accessible for repairs.

Students will not be permitted to sit in classrooms until the issues are fully fixed if there is substantial damage or waterlogging.

Ten government elementary schools will open tomorrow.

Approximately ten government primary schools (GPS) will begin classes on Wednesday, according to Manoj Kumar, the district education officer (primary). He stated that GPS Bhukhri Kalan will be closed for another day after receiving a day’s reprieve.