Badal orders setting up of SIT to probe attack on IAS officer

Describing the assault on a senior IAS officer as an "attack on the Punjab government", Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today ordered setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to get to the root of the incident and ensure exemplary punishment to the culprits.
The Chief Minister today directed DGP Sumedh Singh Saini to immediately form the SIT and to keep him abreast of the investigation progress.
IAS officer Kahan Singh Pannu was allegedly attacked by a mob of Sikh youths at Govind Ghat in Uttarakhand.
Badal expressed "solidarity with the assaulted officer" while meeting members of the IAS Officers' Association here.

"I have been deeply anguished over the incident," he said.
Badal assured the members that he regarded the incident as "an act of extreme provocation, requiring prompt and effective government response, treating it with gravity it deserves."

"Pannu is one of our finest officers and was performing a difficult and challenging task with extreme courage, deep commitment and commendable professional competence.
"In doing so, Pannu displayed remarkable personal character, braving extreme odds," he said.
He and other members of the rescue team in Uttarakhand represented the government and any harm to them will be dealt with, Badal said.
The Chief Minister also appealed for calm and composure in dealing with the tragedy in Uttarakhand, "We are all in it together and instead of creating problems, we must fight shoulder to shoulder in meeting this difficult challenge. The situation requires us to demonstrate calm, composure, perseverance and patience."

Badal reiterated his appeal to the Uttarakhand government to provide maximum security to all officers of various state governments deputed at different locations in the calamity stricken state for smooth execution of relief, rescue and rehabilitation work.