Chandigarh: Demand for bullet proof vehicles has increased in Punjab after the murder of singer turned politician Sidhu Moosewala in May this year, a car manufacturing company said. Moosewala was killed in Mansa on May 29 when he along with his friend and cousin was travelling in a jeep to Jawahar Ke village.
The killing came a day after the Punjab police had pruned his security cover on a temporary basis. Since the high profile killing, big businessmen and many leaders have received calls of ransom and death threats, sources said. While drug abuse was considered to be a major challenge in Punjab, the focus has lately shifted to gang wars and death threats by gangsters which has led to a rise in demand for bullet proof vehicles.
An official at a bullet proof vehicle manufacturing company says that generally the demand for bullet proof vehicles increases during elections in Punjab. However after the murder of Sidhu Moosewala, there has been a manifold demand for such vehicles. According to the official of the company, after the murder of Sidhu Moosewala, they are constantly being asked about bullet proof vehicles by customers.
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However, such vehicles require an NOC of the police. According to DCP Ankur Gupta of Jalandhar, if any leader, businessman, artist or other person wants to prepare a bullet proof vehicle for himself in Punjab, he has to first give an application for it to ADGP Security of Punjab. The case goes to the police of the district where it is seen whether the applicant has faced any threat.
It is also verified that the person who wants to prepare the bullet proof vehicle does not have any criminal record. All this record is sent to the ADGP security after which permission is given to that person to prepare a bullet proof vehicle only after a complete investigation. The cost of making a bullet proof vehicle is between twelve to eighteen lakh rupees.
Besides Moosewala, the security of many prominent figures including politicians, artists and many big businessmen was drastically reduced. Senior BJP leader in Jalandhar, Manarjana Kalia alleged that ever since the Aam Aadmi Party government came to power in Punjab, the “fear of the police among the gangsters has ended and the incidents of brutal murder, extortion and death threats are increasing in Punjab”.
Kalia said that the Aam Aadmi Party government had promised law and order will improve in the state, “but the growing demand for bullet proof vehicles clearly shows that the number of gangsters among the people has increased instead of decreasing”.
