CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has issued an order for the “premature retirement” of Punjab Police SP Salwinder Singh, citing his “controversial conduct”, “indiscipline” and for “bringing bad name to Punjab police.” Salwinder made the headlines last year when he claimed that terrorists from the Jaish-e-Mohammed had captured his SUV to carry out the attack on the Pathankot airbase on January 2, 2016.
Amarinder signed the order that read, “Retire him prematurely.” Sources said the order did not make it clear if the state's home department would give the officer a notice of three months or salary of three months in case he was to be relieved with immediate effect, which is mandatory as per the rules. Punjab DGP Suresh Arora had recommended premature retirement for Salwinder, citing a list of incidents of misconduct, indiscipline, and criminal cases against him. Last year, Salwinder had claimed that his SUV was waylaid by the terrorists when he was travelling along with his cook and a friend. He claimed that he and his cook were thrown out of the car by the terrorists who reached near the airbase with his friend as a hostage.
Named an accused in a sexual harassment case in October 2016, after some policewomen filed complaints against him, a departmental inquiry was ordered against Salwinder before a case was registered. He was declared a proclaimed offender before he surrendered in April, and has been named an accused in two criminal cases of sexual abuse and sexual harassment. Currently under suspension, he is lodged in Amritsar Central Jail.
