The India Post, July 18:Punjab DGP Sh N.P.S. Aulakh today underlined the need to effectively check the flow of counterfeit currency in the state and described it as a major challenge for the internal security as well as the economy of the country.
He was presiding over a meeting of a state level committee constituted to deal with forge currency notes and their circulation. The DGP informed that the recovery of fake currency notes of worth Rs 45.38 lac in the state during current year (up to 30th June ) was an indication of the quantum of circulation of fake currency notes and it was aimed to destabilize the economy of the country. Last year fake currency to the tune of Rs 84 lac was seized, he added.
He asked the representatives from Reserve Bank of India to put forth their suggestions to check the growing menace of counterfeit currency and assured every possible help from the State Police. The field officers were directed to ascertain the source of fake currency to check its flow. Regarding the media reports regarding melting of currency coins on large scale, he also emphasized the need to thoroughly probe this matter.¬
The Police Chief also directed that in case of large recovery of fake currency the services of Enforcement Directorate and Income tax officials should also be sought to investigate the wider ramifications.
Keeping in view the seriousness of the issue and to sensitize the field officials in this regard, the detection and investigation of cases of fake currency would be introduced as a subject in all training programs being conducted at PPA, Phillaur as well as in the syllabus of the district level training schools.
The Police Chief urged the senior bank officials to impress upon the branches of various banks in the State to strengthen their security arrangements by making installation of close-circuit-cameras and alarms at vital points compulsory and also offered the services of recently trained youth of the State by the Punjab Police, for security related duties.
Earlier Mr. Lalit Srivastva, General manager, RBI gave various suggestions to check the circulation of fake currency notes and assured of every possible technical help required in this regard.