File photo of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today ordered promotions for all personnel of Dina Nagar police station who recently played an active role in neutralising the three terrorists who carried out a strike in this town on July 27.
He also announced that Rapid Rural Response force would be launched next month to respond to such attacks within 10 minutes in any village of the state.
Addressing the jawans who displayed exemplary courage and valour during the operation against the terrorists, Mr Badal said "it is a matter of record that you did not care for your personal safety and went after the terrorists with whatever was at your command.
"I feel proud that I am home minister of a State and a force which is individually capable of taking any terrorist activity head on."
Assuring the police personnel that they would be honoured for the exemplary courage shown by them, he said it was not an easy task to neutralise such highly trained terrorists.
He said besides promotions for all personnel who participated in the operation, all home guards who were part of the operation would be inducted into the main force.
Mr Badal, who was on an investment promotion visit to Poland when the attack took place, also congratulated DGP Sumedh Singh Saini for leading from the front on the occasion as well as the fast response of the Punjab Police in dealing with the situation.
The DGP also took Mr Badal on the spot where the terrorists were holed up besides explaining the whole operation.
The Deputy Chief Minister also interacted with the police personnel on the occasion.
Later, while talking to newsmen, Sukhbir Badal announced that a Rapid Rural Response force would be launched next month.
He said this force would respond to any call emanating from any village in the State "within ten minutes as was the case in the cities at present".
Mr Badal said 220 vehicles had been ordered for this purpose. He said Punjab would also set up a training institute near Derabassi at a cost of Rs 50 crore to impart specialized training to the police force.
The Deputy Chief Minister also that an exclusive SWAT team would be established in addition to the present team for the border areas.