Punjab police cancels leaves to ensure peaceful panchayat elections

Chandigarh: To ensure the peaceful conduct of panchayat elections in Punjab, the police department has made a significant decision. All leaves for police officers and personnel have been canceled until October 15, with exceptions made only for special circumstances.

Orders regarding this have already been issued, and violations of these rules will result in action.

Punjab Police has over 80,000 personnel, and their presence is critical for the upcoming elections. The state currently has 13,937 village panchayats, where elections are being held.

On October 15, a total of 13.3 million voters will cast their ballots. To ensure smooth operations, 96,000 police personnel have been deployed.

The peaceful conduct of the elections presents a challenge for the state government. Although efforts have been made to maintain peace in the villages, the government has passed a proposal in the assembly to hold elections without party symbols, aiming for consensus-based elections.

However, despite these efforts, tensions are rising in some areas.