Chandigarh, Aug 2026 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday handed over appointment letters to 1,746 newly recruited police personnel at the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) Ground in Jalandhar under the state government’s ‘Mission Rozgar’ initiative, calling on the recruits to serve people with dedication and sincerity.
Addressing the gathering, Mann said the state government had so far provided 70,840 government jobs to young people. He claimed that the recruitment process had been conducted entirely on merit and without cash payments or political recommendations.
“Jobs have been given on the basis of ‘no cash, no favour’. Let any candidate come forward and say that someone with higher marks was denied a job,” Mann said, asserting that the recruitment system had remained transparent.
The Chief Minister cited an example from his own security detail to underline the impact of merit-based recruitment. He said a security personnel had recently told him that two girls from his village were joining the Punjab Police. Their parents, he said, work in other people’s homes, demonstrating how transparent recruitment can create opportunities for youngsters from ordinary families.
Mann also said Punjab was among the states providing the highest salaries to its government employees. He praised the Punjab Police for its responsibilities, stressing that its role extended beyond maintaining law and order within the state to contributing to the security of the country.
Punjab Police Guards 532-km International Border
Mann highlighted the strategic responsibilities of the Punjab Police, saying the force works alongside the Border Security Force (BSF) to protect 532 kilometres of Punjab’s international border.
He said he had often conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Punjab Police should be regarded as a force that serves not only the state but also contributes significantly to national security.
The Chief Minister said the appointment of 1,746 personnel would bring happiness to nearly 1,750 families across Punjab, with celebrations and distribution of sweets expected at the homes of the newly appointed recruits.
Focus on Road Safety Force
Mann also highlighted the Punjab Police’s Road Safety Force (RSF), describing it as an important initiative aimed at reducing fatalities on the state’s roads. He claimed Punjab was the first state in the world to establish such a dedicated road safety force.
According to Mann, an RSF vehicle is deployed approximately every 30 kilometres to provide rapid assistance to accident victims and improve emergency response on highways and major roads.
He claimed the initiative was helping save around 2,700 lives every year by ensuring faster response to road accidents. Mann said the Punjab model had attracted attention internationally and had been discussed in Nairobi, Kenya.
He also said Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had acknowledged the usefulness of the road safety force in reducing deaths caused by road accidents.
‘Lok Milni’ Programme in Kartarpur
Mann is scheduled to hold a ‘Lok Milni’ programme at Kahlwan in Kartarpur on Thursday, providing an opportunity for people to raise their concerns and interact with the Chief Minister.
Ahead of the programme, Jalandhar Rural Police reviewed security and logistical arrangements. Officials examined VIP security, routes for incoming and outgoing traffic, entry and exit points, parking facilities, deployment of police personnel, traffic diversions and emergency response mechanisms.
Police officials were directed to ensure strict implementation of the security plan, effective access control, smooth movement of traffic and proper crowd management throughout the event.
Crackdown on Drug Trafficking
The Chief Minister also spoke about the state government’s campaign against drugs, saying Punjab Police had intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking.
Mann claimed that more than 70,000 drug smugglers had been sent to jail during the campaign. He acknowledged that the drug problem had not been completely eliminated but expressed confidence that sustained efforts would gradually reduce the menace.
“I do not say that drugs have been completely eliminated, but it will happen gradually,” he said.
Mann also referred to action against properties allegedly belonging to drug smugglers, including demolitions and confiscations. He questioned how individuals accused of destroying families through the drug trade could accumulate large properties.
Addressing the newly recruited police personnel, Mann said their responsibilities would begin immediately and urged them to discharge their duties honestly and professionally. He reminded the recruits that people would place high expectations on them and called upon them to uphold the trust placed in the Punjab Police.
