Chandigarh, October 19
The Punjab Government has suspended two senior police officers. While Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Vigilance, SK Asthana, has been suspended with immediate effect for keeping unauthorised manpower, Superintendent of Police (SP) Dharm Singh Uppal has been suspended for intimidating witnesses.

It is learnt that Asthana had at least 31 personnel at his disposal. Disciplinary proceedings against him will be conducted by an officer nominated on the recommendation of the Chief Secretary.

The department also proposes to take action against government wings that illegally provided manpower to Asthana.

The inquiry report says that the IGP took “police and Home Guards personnel without the sanction of the competent authority. The unauthorised manpower was misused for personal work”.

Superintendent of Police Uppal has been suspended following reports that he intimidated witnesses in an assault case in which his son has been named an accused.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal warned that no police officer would be allowed to take law into his own hands.