By Jagpreet Sandhu , Chandigarh, Febuary 7 : Golden jubilee celebrations of Air Force Police Head Quarter Chandigarh started with a special function in this regard organized to mark its 49th anniversary today presided over by Air Commodore Suresh Singh Air Officer Commanding (AOC), 3 Base Repair Depot (3 BRD). Air Force Police HQ Chandigarh also known as 20 Provost & Security Unit (20 P&S Unit) Air Force was raised at Air Force Station Chandigarh on 07 Feb 1963.
It covers 11 Districts of 04 States and a Union Territory. The unit provides Provost & Security Cover to all Air Force Stations, units and personnel within its geographical jurisdiction. These include the entire Union Territory of Chandigarh, Panchkula district of Haryana, and five districts of Himachal Pradesh namely, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kinnaur, Shimla and Solan.
Two districts, namely Kargil & Leh of Jammu & Kashmir as well as Roopnagar and Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar of Punjab also fall within these eleven. Squadron Leader RC Gaur was the first Commanding Officer and Assistant Provost Marshal (CO & APM) of Chandigarh Air Force Police HQ unit.
During the Golden Jubilee Year, a number of events will be organized. These include Zila Talmel Abhiyan (District co-ordination Campaign), some adventure activities like motor cycle expedition by unit air warriors, hot air ballooning & skiing for men and families, run for fun for a cross section of society, para jumping for unit personnel as well as welfare and social activities. In the Zila Talmel Abhiyan unit personnel will make special visits to each district, which will be in addition to routine visits, for an enhanced level of liaison with civil administration at district, block & tehsil levels. The target is to extensively cover one district in one month. During these trips, the effort will also be to spread awareness about the Air Force as a career option so as to encourage youth to join this service at various levels. Flagging off the Zila Talmel Abhiyan (District co-ordination Campaign) for Chandigarh to mark the starting of the Golden Jubliee Celebrations, the Chief Guest AOC 3BRD, Air Commodore Suresh Singh remarked in the visitor book “It has been a great privilege to be present at 20 P&S unit on the occasion of 49th anniversary. The personnel of the units are highly motivated and the families are also in good stead. May God bless the dynamic CO Wing Commander Manish Sharma and his entire team the very best of the world”.
The Provost and Security organization in the Indian Air Force is headed by the Provost Marshal (Air) at Air Headquarters, for providing Police Services to Air Force formations and personnel. The entire country is covered by twenty nine Provost & Security Units. The jurisdiction of each unit is in terms of the districts. Air Force Police is akin to the Central Military Police (CMP) of Army and Naval Police. It ensures Maintenance of discipline amongst Air Force personnel, prevents & detects crime among service personnel, apprehends absentees and deserters, liaises with civil police and other civil & military authorities and civil organizations. It is also responsible for ceremonial duties. During war, it takes custody of Prisoners Of War (PSOW). Provost & Security units are the field level functionary of the vigilance organization of Air Force.