Punjab Police had to pay a heavy price for conducting an operation in the neighbouring country Nepal without permission. During the month of February, a team of about half a dozen officers of the Anti-Gangster Task Force of Punjab Police went to carry out the operation near a restaurant in Nagarjuna area of Kathmandu.
This operation was to catch a wanted criminal in a drug case. Before carrying out the operation, Punjab Police neither took permission from the Home Ministry nor informed the Nepal Police about it.
Punjab Police officers detained in Nepal
As soon as Nepal Police came to know about this operation of Punjab Police, they detained the Punjab Police officers. After this, the Nepal government raised the issue before the central government.
After talks between the top officials of both the countries, the detained Punjab Police officers were released. After this incident, the Union Home Ministry (MHA) has taken a tough stand. Punjab Police officers have also been reprimanded.
Home Ministry issued a letter
The Home Ministry has issued a letter to all the states and union territories. In a letter issued to the Chief Secretary and Police Chief of the states on March 19, it has been said that before carrying out any operation in any other country, necessary conditions have to be fulfilled and permission is necessary.
On the other hand, Pramod Ban, head of AGTF of Punjab Police, said that no operation of any kind was carried out in Nepal. The team had gone only to collect information.
What is the Home Ministry’s guideline?
Keep in mind that according to the current guidelines of the Home Ministry, no investigating officer of India gets investigative powers in another country. Therefore, such an operation carried out by the investigating officer without the explicit consent of any country can be considered an interference in the sovereignty of that country.
Sources say that this is nothing new. Since cunning criminals make their way to other countries through Nepal, such incidents keep happening often.
