Punjab Newsline | Jalandhar

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday reached the PAP Ground in Jalandhar, where he handed over appointment letters to 1,746 newly recruited police personnel under the state government’s ‘Mission Rozgar’ initiative.

Addressing the gathering, Mann said the Punjab government has so far provided 70,840 jobs. He claimed that recruitment was carried out on the basis of merit and without cash or recommendations.

“Jobs have been given on the basis of ‘no cash, no favour’. Let any candidate come forward and say that someone with higher marks was denied a job,” Mann said.

Chief Minister shared an example from his own security detail, saying a security personnel had told him that two girls from his village were joining the Punjab Police. He said their parents work in other people’s homes, highlighting the opportunities created through merit-based recruitment.

Mann also said Punjab is among the states offering the highest salaries to its employees. He praised the Punjab Police, saying its role extends beyond protecting the state and includes contributing to the security of the country.

Punjab Police Also Guards 532-km Border

Mann said the Punjab Police works alongside the Border Security Force (BSF) to protect 532 kilometres of the state’s international border. He said he often tells the Prime Minister that the Punjab Police should be viewed as a force serving not just Punjab but the entire country.

He said Thursday’s appointments would bring celebrations to nearly 1,750 families, with sweets being distributed in their homes.

Mann Highlights Road Safety Force

Chief Minister also highlighted the achievements of the Punjab Police, particularly the Road Safety Force (RSF). He said Punjab was the first state in the world to establish such a dedicated force.

According to Mann, one RSF vehicle is stationed approximately every 30 kilometres. He claimed that the initiative is saving around 2,700 lives every year in road accidents.

He said the Punjab model has also been discussed internationally, including in Nairobi, Kenya, and added that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has acknowledged the usefulness of the road safety force in preventing deaths caused by road accidents.

CM to Hold ‘Lok Milni’ in Kartarpur

Mann is also scheduled to hold a ‘Lok Milni’ programme at Kahlwan in Kartarpur on Thursday.

Ahead of the event, Jalandhar Rural Police reviewed arrangements related to VIP security, routes for incoming and outgoing traffic, entry and exit points, parking, police deployment, traffic diversions and the emergency response system.

Officials were directed to ensure strict adherence to the security plan, effective access control, smooth traffic movement and proper crowd management throughout the program.

Mann Says Over 70,000 Drug Smugglers Sent to Jail

Speaking about the government’s anti-drug campaign, Mann said Punjab Police has continued its crackdown on drug trafficking and claimed that more than 70,000 smugglers have been sent to jail.

“I do not say that drugs have been completely eliminated, but it will happen gradually,” Mann said.

He also referred to the demolition of properties allegedly belonging to drug smugglers, questioning how people responsible for destroying families through drugs could live in large houses.

Mann told the newly recruited police personnel that their duties would begin from Thursday and urged them to perform their responsibilities sincerely, saying people would have high expectations from them.