Chandigarh, Dec 31: Punjab’s police force is facing a deepening manpower crisis even as hundreds of officers continue to be deployed for the personal security of political leaders, raising concerns about public safety and policing priorities.
Senior police officials say recruitment has remained sluggish for nearly four years, leaving thousands of sanctioned posts unfilled across the state. As a result, police stations in multiple districts are struggling to manage routine law-and-order duties, criminal investigations and patrolling with severely reduced staff.
“At many police stations, the same small team is expected to manage crime investigation, night patrols and VIP security,” a senior district police officer said on condition of anonymity. “It is putting enormous pressure on the force.”
Despite the shortage, a significant number of police personnel remain attached to political leaders, ranging from local figures to senior functionaries. Many of these security arrangements were approved under previous governments and continue without periodic reassessment of threat perception.
Police officials say that while criminal activity has risen in several areas, police presence on the ground has weakened due to the diversion of manpower toward personal security duties. In several districts, officers admit that response times to crimes have suffered.
“When you have fewer boots on the ground, organised crime and repeat offenders become harder to control,” another officer said.
The Aam Aadmi Party government, which took office in March 2022, had announced plans to rationalise security and redeploy personnel for public policing. An initial exercise to withdraw excess security was carried out, but officials concede that implementation has been uneven.
“Directions have been issued to review all security covers and withdraw guards where threat criteria are not met,” the district officer said. “Our priority is public safety, and security will be provided strictly as per protocol.”
Police insiders say that until large-scale recruitment is completed and security reviews are enforced consistently, the gap between political protection and public policing is likely to persist.
