State Police Accountability Commission (SPAC) Face Charges of Misusing Laws

GUWAHATI: Putting a question mark on the credibility and integrity of a section of Assam Police officials, the State Police Accountability Commission (SPAC), Assam has recorded a large number of cases of misuse of power, forgery of records, non-registration of FIR, blackmailing, delay in investigation, harassment and atrocities against such officials.

Cases were registered after the people from different walks of life filed complaints before the SPAC during 2017 seeking justice from the commission.

According to the Annual Report 2017 of SPAC which was tabled in the Assam Assembly on Monday, a total of 244 complaints were received by the Commission during 2017, out of which, 166 cases were registered as regular cases and the rests were treated as miscellaneous cases.

Among the cases registered against the Assam Police officials during 2017 there were 52 cases of harassment, atrocities, misbehaviour and threatening, 51 cases of delay in investigation, 49 cases of police inaction and negligence, 13 cases of perfunctory investigation, 10 cases of misuse of power, 21 cases of non registration of FIR, 9 cases of blackmailing and demanding money, 8 cases of arrest or detention without due process of law and one case of death in police custody.

Way back in 2007, the Assam Government had established the SPAC to make the Assam Police more accountable, professionally organized and service oriented to serve the people’s interest. Since its first annual report in 2008 the SPAC has been making several recommendations for enhancing the police accountability to law and to achieve the objective of setting up of the commission.

The SPAC has recommended mandatory installation of CCTV cameras in each police station/outpost, to help in reduction of the allegation of harassment. It has also recommended each police station should have one Public Relation Office to enable the general public to easily lodge any complaint.

The Commission not only issues directions for taking action against the erring officers, it also monitors the action taken on its directions till its logical conclusion, with a view to fully ensure police accountability. People may also approach the Commission if they are dissatisfied with the outcome or inordinate delay in the process of departmental inquiry into the complaints of misconduct against any police officer by the police department.

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