Punjab Police Deny Advisory Telling Officers to Avoid Uniforms

The Punjab Police denied issuing an internal security advisory that allegedly directed personnel in Amritsar, Batala, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot to avoid wearing uniforms while commuting to and from duty. The department characterized social media messages and a viral audio clip claiming officers were told to wear civilian clothes and hide identification badges as fake.

The controversy follows the murder of Assistant Sub-Inspector Harjit Singh in Amritsar. Amritsar Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill stated the killing was orchestrated by a handler in Pakistan who demanded the murder as proof of loyalty. While one suspect was killed in a police encounter, another remains at large.

Opposition leaders from the Indian National Congress used the reports to attack the Aam Aadmi Party government. Pawan Khera and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of overseeing a deteriorating law and order situation, citing the alleged advisory as evidence of a decline in police morale. Partap Singh Bajwa, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, further alleged that the government attempted to hide its failures in state security management.