Not the lone black sheep

People may differ in their opinion, ideals; and leaders may differ in their politics, but when confronted with a national issue a sense of maturity is expected of them. The events that are unfolding now as a result of the investigation being carried out by India’s National Investigating Agency shows the level of sensitivity that the leaders should have shown, but didn’t.

Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh, who was said to have been abducted by terrorists involved in Pathankot attack, had given enough reasons to not believe his side of the story. Within 15 days of the attack India’s National Investigation Agency has been able to establish that the police officer was being paid in gold and diamonds for every drug consignment smuggled across the border. All this comes amidst claims by the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal who has always gone all out to defend his colleagues and police force whenever there have been allegations of drug trade flourishing under the very watch eyes of the authorities.

In April 2014, former Deputy General of police Shashi Kant dropped a bombshell on the ruling SAD-BJP government and also on Congress party by disclosing six names –including two ministers in the SAD-BJP government. He had disclosed that at the behest of the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal the Intelligence wing had prepared a list of anti-social elements and soon the team was told to disband the list after the chief minister realized that the list included names of politicians and high profile leaders for drug pedaling.  “I included those patronizing drug rackets also. As big names figured in the list, the CM told me that there was no need for me to get into these things as there were several other tasks,” DGP Shashi Kant had informed the media then. The state was bound to suffer when the Chief Minister not only turns ablind eye to such cases but also advises honest cops to look the other way, and eighteen months later a top cop is under investigation for drug and terror nexus. The list was kept under wraps to take good care of political careers of those named, and the state government did its best to deny and issued statement that all is well with all those who matter in Punjab, be it from apolitical party or from Police.

However, the moment the investigations for the Pathankot attack got shifted to the National Investigation Agency –the involvement of Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh came to light. However, can it be said that Salwinder has been the lone black sheep? Such an act can’t be carried out without the patronage of political bosses.  On the fateful night when the terrorist not only took a ride in Salwinder’s car but also managed to take India for a ride, another friend of his Rajesh Verma was one of the other travelers in the car. Rajesh Verma is a jeweler by profession and was a regular at such expeditions so that the authenticity of the prize money in the form of gold and diamond could be verified. Salwinder used his position to create a safe passage for the transfer of the drug consignment. While the governments at the center and the state have maintained silence on the issue, once the involvement of Salwinder came to the limelight, Punjab government soon came into action and arrested some members of the Border Security Force (BSF). There has to be solid logic behind the prompt action by the state government that remained nonchalant all these years and shrugged off any responsibility. Perhaps it was well aware of the police involvement in the drug trade, and was patronizing the same under too by turning a blind eye to all reports and criticism. And is now taking action to avoid criticism that too when the party has to face the electoral battle in early part of 2017.Salwinder Singh now facing investigation is the only key player available to investigators of the Pathankot terror attacks, as a seasoned police officer who has had an infamous record may have a lot to present on the involvement of some leader from the ruling party in Punjab.

The Punjab Chief Minister and his deputy over the years have not only remained in denial mode but have also tried to play down the drug menace. The party in opposition Congress too didn’t play their role in raising the matter, and only got into action after party vice president Rahul Gandhi made an off-the-cuff remark in October 2012 that 70 per cent youth in Punjab consume drugs. Another ex-cop Bhola made allegations against state minister Majithia who was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate but the investigations remain inconclusive. With easy passing day the core issues does come back to haunt –only if the government in Punjab had taken action on the list prepared by intelligence wing. It would have been able to nip the problem in the bud and no terror group would have dared to enter India in disguise of drug smugglers.