DERGAON: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today announced that with the continuous improvement of the situation in the State, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is likely to be lifted from the entire State by the end of this year. In such situation, Assam Police Battalions will be empowered to replace Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) other than the number of CAPFs whose presence is mandatory in the State as per law.
As a part of the sequel undertaken to bring about police modernization in Assam, the Chief Minister today attended the first-ever conference of the commandants at Police Training Centre in Dergaon. The conference was organized to help the Assam Police Battalions to transform them into vibrant bodies capable of meeting the mandate they are raised.
Delivering his introductory speech, Chief Minister Sarma said that considering the important role played by the commandants and the Assam Police Battalions, the Commandants’ Conference will be organized every six months. This will be done to bring about positive changes in the rank and file of the battalions and give a more result-oriented police force to the State.
The Chief Minister also said that since Assam Police Battalions are the backbones of the policing system, he would visit the battalions during his district tours. He also observed that training plays an important role and therefore in shaping the professionalism and readiness of the polic personnel, retired army officers will be appointed in the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police to impart training. The officer would be in charge of rigorous training regimen to help the police personnel to meet the changing dynamics of commission of crimes. He also said that attention would be given to ensure that the personnel belonging to different battalions are not used for any purpose other than those exclusively connected to bonafide policing.
The Chief Minister said that steps would be taken to ensure that there is positive change in the mindset of the forces of the battalions to make them feel that Commandants and forces belonging to different battalions are integral part of the Police Forces in Assam. Adequate steps will be taken to empower the Assam Police Battalions so that they themselves are complete to deal with law and order in the state. They will also be reoriented to control the mob without using lethal weapons or using them to the minimum extent possible.
The Chief Minister also said that government would help every battalion in the State to develop its specific motto to help each battalion to imbibe the motto and learn to dedicate them for the service of the State and its people. He also said that every battalion should celebrate its raising day with adequate opportunity for the wards of police personnel in the battalion to showcase their talents like debate, extempore speech, art etc. in the raising day celebration. Sarma said the government would take steps to ensure that every battalion has a good school inside its premises where other than the services of the appointed teachers, service of the good and talented police personnel posted in the battalions would be used. All the battalions will have good housing colony to give housing satisfaction to the police personnel.
The government will also hold the Assam Police Meet encompassing sports and cultural activities of the police personnel in the month of November this year in Dergaon.
Earlier, Chief Minister Sarma upon arrival at PTC Dergaon, received the guard of honour and inspected the ceremonial parade at Lachit Barphukan Police Training Academy. He also presented the Union Home Minister’s Service Medal to five Assam police personnel for exemplary commitment during training in 2020-21.
Assam Director General of Police GP Singh, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Samir Kumar Sinha, Principal Secretary to Home and Political Niraj Verma, Special DGP Harmeet Singh and other senior police officers were present on both the occasions.
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